Album
A book used to organize and display stamp collections.
Welcome to our master reference index for stamp collecting vocabulary. Whether you are identifying rare error variants, trying to decode historical catalog references, or auditing auction logs, this comprehensive index demystifies essential philatelic terms and definitions used by expert philatelists worldwide.
A book used to organize and display stamp collections.
The auction house’s expected selling price range for a lot.
A bid placed before the auction by someone unable to attend live.
A professional assessment of an item’s value.
The opportunity to purchase unsold lots after the main auction ends.
Term used for certain stamps produced by De La Rue for Great Britain 1862-1880 from plates which were not put into normal production
Design The artwork approved by a postal administration and passed to the printer for production.
Basic equipment to aid collecting in addition to stamp albums, stamp hinges, Watermark Detector, etc
Mark A handstamp applied to international letters prior to 1875 showing the charge to be collected from the addressee
Halfpenny Tax A charge made by the British Post Office before 1840 on letters transmitted in
General term for stamps, more specifically those with gum on the back
Official Stamps overprinted with these words were used by H.M Admiralty dockyards and other installations on official mail
Coated Paper A type of paper devised by Harrison & Sons to obviate the problem of ink absorption in the drying process
on Stamps Stamp advertising first appeared in 1840. In Britain the advertising was carried on pictorial envelopes and wrappers sold by the Post Office, e.g. Mulreadys. Later adverts were printed on selvedge, interleaving and as part of the stamp panes in stamp booklets.
on Postmarks Advertising by Slogan Postmarks was not adopted until the late 19th
Labels Adhesive labels used to advertise a commercial company.
of Delivery An international service adopted by member countries of the UPU in 1891 permitting the sender of a registered packet, on payment of a fee, to be advised of the delivery of the packet. See also Advice of Receipt
of Receipt q.v Advice of Delivery
a l'étranger jusqu'a destination, postage paid to destination. (q.v PD)
The collection and study of "Air Mail" stamps and of matters appertaining to the carriage of mail by Air.
Term adopted by UPU in 1951 to denote special letter sheets printed on lightweight paper and intended to be sent by airmail. (q.v Air Letter)
Machines Privately manufactured machine for applying stamps to envelopes worked by hand or electricity.
Abbreviation for "Affranchissements". A pre-cancel marking found on French stamps used on
An Organisation of either public or private enterprise handling and promoting sales of new issues of postage stamps to the stamp trade on behalf of the issuing Governments.
Pre stamped cards devised by Royal Mail in 1993 for airmail use.
Envelopes bearing cachets or airmail stamps or other evidence of their being carried by aeroplane etc.
Flaw Technical term for an uncoloured area, usually circular, which appears accidentally in a coloured portion of a stamp design.
Forms Special letter forms impressed with a sixpenny stamp issued in GB in 1943 to facilitate the writing and handling of air mail letters.
Special letter form used by GB during WW2 for forces mail overseas which was microfilmed and then reproduced on arrival at destination.
Any form of correspondence transmitted by air,
Labels Member countries of the UPU adopt a standardised blue label for affixing to correspondence sent by air to facilitate easy recognition, also known as etiquettes (q.v)
Letter Card A folded letter sheet for British Armed Forces in WW2
Stamps Postage stamps expressly providing for prepayment of postage on air borne mail.
Letter Stamps Stamps issued by British European Airways since 1951 and also for a while by
A service of the British Post Office introduced in 1986 for the bulk posting of airmail packets using postage paid impression and a distinctive label.
Impression A colourless (uninked) impression of either a stamp (usually embossed) or of an overprint or surcharge.
Book designed to house stamps etc.
Letter Facing machine that prepares mail for automatic cancelling.
Watermark A single device or pattern covering the whole sheet of paper.
and Beta Flaws Terms to describe flaws in lithographed stamps. An Alpha Flaw is one which builds up on the litho stone during the early processes of stamp production. A Beta flaw is one which occurs later because of wear on the stone.
Great Britain's first line engraved issues had letters printed in the bottom corners. These, over time, came from four sets of hand punches having distinctive type faces, known as Alphabets I, II, III, IV (q.v Check Letters).
Service A scheme introduced in 1937 whereby all letter mail sent from the UK to Commonwealth
Bag Plastic bag used since the 1980s by the Post Office to seal and forward damaged or broken packets in transit: similarly a paper envelope used by the Post Office before the advent of plastic.
Postmark denoting a Travelling Post Office.
Printing in two colours to give a three-dimensional effect.
Form of machine engraving which gives an appearance of relief to a print through use of parallel waved lines.
Printing terminology for a rivet, nail or screw used to fix a printing plate to a wooden or metal mount.
Watermark Watermark used in certain issues of Great Britain and Colonies. An Anchor is shown in many stamp papers.
Without a hyphen.
Water soluble and fugitive ink with a dye base that runs when wetted and fluoresces under a UV lamp.
Colour Printer's Ink with a coal tar base. Annulé Cancelled.
Seals Charity label sold to raise funds to combat TB resembles a stamp but is not valid for postage. q.v Health Stamps
for Army Post Office.
(French) To pay, Inscribed on some Postage Due stamps.
(French) To collect, Inscription on some Postage Due stamps.
Stamps sent by dealers to collectors with the option of buying or returning them before a set date. Après le Depart (French) Too late.
de Réception. q.v Advice of Receipt
Method of separating stamps by a series of minute semi circular slits varying in distance between ¼ and ½ mm.
Perforation Stamps perforated by Henry Archer during his experiments in first applying perforation to postage stamps. (1850 - 1854)
Paper Paper manufactured to provide resistance to natural aging.
Overprint on low value British stamps used by district and station paymasters' offices between 1896 and 1904. Victoria and Edwardian stamps overprinted were used for all their correspondence with the exception of letters to the War Office which were free. (q.v Army Service and AS)
Office The organisation responsible for handling soldiers mail (see also FPO (Forces Post Office).
Stamps inscribed either Army Telegraphs or Military Telegraphs were issued between 1884 and 1901 for use by British Military Forces on manoeuvres.
Stamps Stamps that give off an aroma e.g. Switzerland 2001 Chocolate issue which when scratched had an aroma of chocolate.
Postmark Impression placed on mail by receiving office to show name of office and arrival date.
Block Multiple of stamps, usually a block of four, with an attached sheet margin bearing a printed arrow as a guide to dividing the sheet for easier balancing of stock.
A superfine paper with a surface of china clay giving it a highly enamelled finish for the printing of fine-screen half-tone blocks,
Artist's painting or drawing serving as the basis for stamp design.
Service perfin (q.v) on postage stamp for use by Sudan Military.
Stamps etc sold to collectors at their own risk not guaranteed by the vendor.
Space philately as a theme or topic. A study and collection of stamps, covers and documents related to space exploration.
Prints The first issues of Greece were printed by Meyer in Paris but later printings from November 1861 were made in Athens.
Angleterre Transit Francais.
Automatic Teller Machine.
A widely used method of buying and selling stamps.
Expert opinion that a stamp or other philatelic item is genuine.
Mail 1930's experimental aircraft that carried mail over short but congested routes.
Franking Machine - q.v Meter Mark.
Letter Facing Machine Machine invented by GPO in 1957 for use in letter sorting offices. The machine arranges letters so that the stamps on them are all in the same position.
Machine Perforation Type of perforation applied to vertical spaces between stamps of New
Sorting Machine
Stamp Vending Machine Machines installed at certain Post Offices and elsewhere for the supply of adhesive stamps by paying the money into a slot.
Stamps Any impression applied directly to a postal packet or to a gummed label for fixing to a postal packet dispensed by a coin operated machine.
Teller Machine Machine used by banks for dispensing cash, but has been adapted in USA and
to dispense special small sheets of self adhesive stamps.
Objects (French) Other Articles. A category of International Mail that is made up of various classes of printed matter, small packets, matter for the blind.
UPU Form stating weight of registered and non registered airmail (q.v OAT).
A stamp with poor margins or perforations cutting into design, also maybe a heavy postmark.
Reception Permits the sender, upon payment of a fee, to be notified of confirmation of delivery.
Early type of postmarking machine devised by J.G Azemar in 1868 and used experimentally in London between February 1869 and the end of 1872.
from West to East in 1932.
1847 to prepay the carriage on letters carried by the vessel between Port of Spain and San Francisco.
countries. Segregator
A group of four or more connected stamps.
A small bound collection of stamps sold for convenience.
Coins or precious metals valued primarily for their metal content.
An additional fee charged by the auction house to the buyer.
the Book Refers to a variety of items usually listed in the back of a specialised stamp catalogue e.g. postage dues, revenues, postal savings stamps etc..
Lines, shading, or solid colour used as a background for an artistic feature such as a head
Part of a printing plate made by pouring molten type metal into the non printing side of an electro- deposited shell.
Any printing on the reverse of a stamp (see also Underprint).
Postmark applied to the back of an envelope and other postal packets, often at places en route or at point of arrival. Bâle Dove Swiss Cantonal stamp issue of 1845.
Post Mail carried by either a manned balloon or a free (unmanned) balloon.
Monté Piloted balloon. Term used for letters despatched by balloon during the Siege of Paris (1870- 1871).
(French) Newspaper Wrapper.
Stamps usually on paper gathered from incoming mail of banks.
Paper Paper originally used for the production of banknotes, but subsequently used for the printing of stamps e.g. Latvia 1920.
Miniature war economy stamps of South Africa were so named because of their size.
Cancellation consisting of bars in rectangular, oval or circular patterns.
Stamps & Labels Barcodes are patterns of straight lines of varying thickness which are able to be read by electronic equipment.
Groove deliberately cut into the obliterating bars of some stamps to identify the stamper.
Cancel Obliteration used either to cancel a stamp or to block out a portion of the design.
Mills Paper on which some New Zealand Stamps were printed. Bâtonné Thin "bank" letter paper, designed for lightweight foreign correspondence and watermarked with parallel lines to facilitate neatness of writing.
House Essays Designs submitted by Charles Whiting of Beaufort House in the British Treasury competition of 1839.
surface in a printing press on which a printing plate is laid.
Colourless liquid made from petroleum used for detecting watermarks in stamps.
A term applied to a stamp printed in two colours.
Posts Postal services operated by means of bicycles.
Pair Two unseparated stamps on which the inscriptions are in different languages.
Stamp A single stamp with inscriptions in two languages.
Stamp Stamp made in two parts for easy separation so that one part can be put on the mailed packet with the other acting as a receipt.
Name given to single postage stamps divided in half officially or privately and used postally.
design or device reproduced in bent wire for attachment to the dandy-roll of paper-making machine to produce a watermark.
white spot in an impression due to a small piece of paper adhering during printing.
Mark Small circular handstruck mark showing month and day, but not year. It is the earliest dated postmark known to have been used by any postal administration. Invented by Henry Bishop and introduced in 1661.
International du Travail (International Labour Office).
Nickname given to stamps issued from 1945 to 1949 in the Anglo American zones of Germany.
Cancel Machine postmarks consisting of a black line, circle or crosses used as a wartime security measure.
Plates Printing plates used for making the Penny Black Stamp of Great Britain in 1840. (q.v Red Plates).
Prints Proofs of forthcoming postage stamps which were sent by the Austrian Post Office to the press for publicity also printing of GB Line engraved 1d stamps in black ink after printing in red had begun. Also used to describe souvenir sheets of stamp issues with no postal validity.
French key-type design designed by Joseph Blanc used 1900-1929.
Endless belt of felt which conveys newly formed paper through the pressing rollers.
Term used for a colour usually destroyed by oxidation.
Off Printing term denoting printing which runs off the edge of a page after trimming. Bleuté Paper tinged with blue.
Perforation A perforation where the holes have not been punched out due to blunt or missing perforation pins.
Perforation Applied to perforation variations of the 1940 printings of New Zealand and other British
Four or more unsevered stamps in the format of 2 x 2 forming a rectangle. (q.v Corner Block).
Letter Plain squared printers' type without ornament or serifs.
Value Name given to one denomination in a set of stamps for which the sale has been restricted.
Paper Paper containing a quantity of rag as well as wood pulp but which is in fact more grey than blue.
Paper paper with a blue discolouration caused by prussiate of potash in the printing ink reacting with the paper. (q.v Bleuté).
MB.
of Education Overprint on British stamps issued between 1902 and 1904 to school inspectors for use on official correspondence.
Margin A wide margin.
Stamps Unauthorised stamps.
Mobile (BM) French words meaning Mobile Box.
Lettering thicker and darker in colour than usual, often used in overprints
A thin crisp paper with a hard surface.
Small panes of stamps bound together in covers often interleaved with sheets of commercial advertising.
Pane pane of stamps from a booklet.
Stamps Stamps intended for release in booklets and differing in some aspect from normal issued stamps.
Postcard A narrow postcard measuring 2⅝ x 5⅜ inches that can also be used as a bookmark.
(German) Ship Mail
Print A stamp lithographed at Bordeaux in 1870/1 instead of being produced in Paris during the
de Moulins Zinc coated steel sphere containing bundles of letters wrapped in waterproof material which was floated down the River Seine into Paris during the Siege 1870-1871.
An accelerated service operated by the New Zealand Post Office mainly for business users.
Posts Posts organised by boy scouts in the absence of national post services and at Christmas when Royal Mail has authorised the service for the specific purpose of local delivery of Christmas Cards.
A system of printing by means of raised dots enabling the blind to read by touch.
German for a stamp.
Types Early British Colonial design engraved by Perkins Bacon e.g. for British West Indies.
Closed Mail Prepaid mail for foreign countries sent through the British postal system 1849.
Gum Commercial name for dextrin, leiocome or starch gum used on early British stamps.
Postal Agency
Letters Malformed or broken letters in the inscriptions on stamps caused by damage to the printing plate.
Star Postmark used in Edinburgh between 1863 and 1873, so called because it was similar to the star of the Ducal Order of Brunswick.
by a Crown. Punch perforated on stamps of GB signifies Board of Trade.
Centre
Where prepayment has been made to the Post Office for letters and packets posted in bulk.
Stamps Special low denomination adhesive stamps for use on bulk posted mail. Bull's Eyes Nickname given to the first issues of Brazil.
Prints Stamps produced by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, Washington. Burélage A fine network composed of either wavy lines or dots. Burélé Having burélage or network.
The cutting tool of tempered steel, one end of which is a sharp point used in engraving on metal as in line engraving.
uneven raised edge of surplus metal resulting from the passage of the engraver's burin.
Stamps Private stamps issued by bus companies to prepay freight charges on packets and parcels conveyed on bus routes.
Reply Service A service provided by the Post Office to enable people to send mail to business firms free of charge. The business takes out a licence and all charges are debited to the licence holder.
These were the "feeder services" to the six Post Roads in Great Britain in the later part of the 17th & 18th centuries.
Commonwealth.
Similarly trisect, quadsect.
occupation.
A stamp issued to celebrate a person, event or anniversary.
A stamp issued in long rolls for vending machines or bulk use.
A postal marking applied to prevent a stamp from being reused.
A printed or illustrated design added to a cover for commemorative purposes.
The illegal removal of small amounts of precious metal from a coin’s edge.
A coin issued to celebrate a person, event or anniversary.
Items entrusted to an auction house for sale.
A detailed listing of auction lots including descriptions and estimates.
Commercial advertising was banned in Great Britain until 1989 since when a wide range of goods and services have been advertised.
Airways, for the carriage of letters between airports and for posting on arrival.
was sent by air at no additional cost to surface rates of postage.
So named because they were produced by Waterlow when De La Rue's works were blitzed.
Agents - A watermark on early British Colonial stamps
A mark applied to a cover in addition to the postmark.
The technique by which paper is smoothed using chilled steel rollers at the end of the manufacturing process.
Term to describe certain stamps bearing embossed effigies which have the appearance of a cameo.
Cover Envelope etc. posted by military or naval personnel on active service in wartime.
Defacement applied to all types of stamps to ensure that they are not used again.
by Favour Stamps cancelled in some special manner to oblige the purchaser.
to Order Term describing a stamp bearing a postmark applied "by favour". A postal official would cancel the stamps in sheets or on covers and return them directly to the dealer or collector.
Stamps Postage stamps issued by the Cantons in Switzerland prior to the issue of stamps by the
Nickname for the three cornered stamps issued by the Cape of Good Hope. Captain's Gratuity An additional fee over and above the postage rate charged to recompense the Ship's
Tetrachloride Colourless liquid which will make paper transparent without harming the gum of mint stamps and removes oil or grease from other materials.
Tissue Paper-backed sheet of gelatine used in photogravure printing.
Fine quality card of varying thickness used for proofing impressions of stamp dies and plates.
Penny Nickname for imperforate examples of GB 1d red (Plate 116) of 1864 issued in Cardiff in
Charity.
du Timbre (French) Stamp Booklet. Carriers' Stamps Issues made by local carrier services, most of which were in the United States.
Philately The collection and study of stamps incorporating maps in their designs.
Paper A thick semi card paper.
Small oval or circle containing a portrait or heraldic device.
Paper A strong rough paper occasionally used for stamps (Trinidad 1d blue of 1853).
Delivery Labels Labels issued by Post Offices for packets on which trade charges are to be recovered from the addressee.
Specialised priced handbooks covering selected issues of one country or of the world which may be in 4 or 5 volumes e.g. Stamps of the World by Stanley Gibbons.
Value The sale price quoted for a stamp in a recognised catalogue.
Mail Mail accelerated by a "Ship to Shore" service involving the use of light aircraft catapulted from the decks of ships, when within range of shore.
Colonies.
Date Stamp.
Marks Manuscript endorsements hand struck marks or printed labels showing that mail has been opened and examined by a civil or military censor.
Marking A diamond shaped mark applied by machine to all mail posted in Britain during the annual mail census.
Term for the central feature of a stamp design. q.v Vignette
Term applied to stamps to show the position of the perforations in relation to the printed design.
of Expertisation A written opinion from an Expert Committee.
of Posting Form supplied with the date of posting and retained by the sender as proof that an item has been posted.
Mail Mail for which a receipt has been given to the sender and a signature required from the addressee on delivery.
French African Community Franc. Unit of currency in French West Africa and Reunion.
pieces of paper left after perforation of stamps.
Breakers Popular name for the 1919 issues of Yugoslavia.
Lines Prominent vertical lines in the watermark found on laid paper at right angles to the fine lines.
Surface Coating applied to stamp paper either to improve the print's appearance or for security reasons.
Paper The whiter paper introduced to British stamps e.g. KEVII 1½d in August 1905 to improve their appearance.
Heads Nickname for early British Colonial stamps showing a full face portrait of Queen Victoria taken from A.E Chalon's painting of her in coronation robes.
of Address Stamp The Netherlands issued a 70c stamp intended to be used by people who were moving house.
Term referring to a change of colour after printing.
Marks & Labels Handstruck marks and adhesive labels applied to unpaid or underpaid mail to explain the reason for the deficiency and the amount to be paid.
Labels Labels of non postal nature sold by various bodies to raise funds and affixed by their purchasers to letters or cards.
Stamp Labels which combine indication of postal payment with a premium in aid of some charity.
Surcharge Addition to the postage value of stamp for a charity donation.
Letters Letters in the lower corners of British Stamps (1840) and on later issues repeated but in reverse order in the upper corners (q.v Alphabet).
Stamps Embossed fiscal stamps applied to cheques from 1855 to 1971 to denote stamp duty payable on them; also the nickname for postage stamps of Nyasaland issued in 1898.
Posts Local service of Morocco organised by the Cherifien Administration in 1911 linking most of the main towns.
Blossoms Name for Japanese Stamps of 1872-1874.
Taxe (French) Postage Due.
Paper A waterleaf paper imported from China.
Treaty Ports Seaports on the coast of China which were opened to British trade as a result of the
Seals or handstamps bearing ideographs or Japanese characters.
Charity Post Stamps Stamps issued by Scout, Youth and Church groups in Britain since 1981, since when it is permitted for charities to deliver Christmas & New Year Cards between 25 November and 1 January.
Mail Scheme operated by the British Post Office whereby mail could be posted in advance for delivery on Christmas Day. In use from 1902 to 1904.
Seals Invented by Einar Holboell and issued under the auspices of post offices in Scandinavia and the USA.
Form of lithography using two or more colours simultaneously.
Paper Very thin paper meant for rolling cigarettes but used by Latvia for a stamp issue in 1919.
Tax Stamps Stamps indicating a Government tax on cigarettes.
Stamps Labels, vignettes etc other than postage stamps.
Datestamp Form of postmark produced by a single or combined circle incorporating the date and place of posting.
Delivery Companies Founded in Great Britain in the 1860s these private companies undertook local delivery of circulars and printed matter.
Delivery Stamps Stamps issued by private companies in Great Britain in 1865-67 for the delivery of circulars, samples and other printed matter at rates which were lower than the Post office.
Term used to describe the early postage stamps produced between 1840 and 1875.
Plate A cleaned printing surface, Alkaline solutions are used to clean plates. A clean surface produces stamps with sharper impressions.
Stamp A stamp from which a postal or fiscal marking or a blemish has been removed. Cliché Term for the individual stamp subject on a letterpress printing plate.
Transfer In lithography the transfers are of paper and may require trimming before laying on the stone. If trimmed too close on one or more sides a clipped transfer will result.
Mediterranean Force WW2
Paper Any paper with a mineral composition deposited on its surface after manufacture.
on Delivery
Translator
House Mail For over 150 years Coffee Houses acted as an important mail exchange centres.
Cancel Circular numbered obliteration used by Bavaria 1850-69 so called on account of the ratchet projections surrounding the numerals.
Pair of coil stamps linked by a narrow strip of marginal paper, the coil being made up of rows from sheets.
Strip of paper at the beginning of a coil of stamps that facilitates the loading of a stamp vending machine.
One of a roll of stamps used in stamp vending machines.
A piece of paper adhering to the edge of the last stamp on a roll.
(French) Date of printing found on corner blocks of stamps from complete sheets.
Postaux (French) Parcel Post.
Material Related matter, maps, books or other illustrations, newspapers etc. exhibited with a stamp collection.
Stamps Name for issues made by Oxford and Cambridge colleges for their messenger services in the 1870s and 1880s.
A method of printing using gelatine images of photographs. An example is the souvenir sheet commemorating the London 1950 International Stamp Exhibition.
Changeling A stamp whose colour has been altered, either accidentally or deliberately.
Guide Usual form is a folding card on which the main philatelic colours are shown.
Postmark Postmark applied in a colour other than black.
Proof Proofs made in the adopted colour or colours.
Separation Method of segregating different coloured parts of a stamp design for printing.
Trial Proofs taken of a stamp in a wide range of colours.
Paper Paper which is coloured right through during the manufacturing process.
Roulette Lines of slits between rouletted stamps in colour from printing on the notched rules between the clichés.
The vertical line of stamps in a sheet as distinguished from a horizontal row.
Perforation in which the perforating pins are arranged in a comb pattern, a long horizontal line with short vertical lines.
Cover Item of mail bearing adhesive postage stamps of more than one stamp issuing authority.
Stamp Circular datestamp combining an obliterating element with the name and date of posting.
Cancel Postmark either handstruck or applied by machine intended to commemorate an event or anniversary.
Stamp Issues which both prepay postage and commemorate a specific event.
Lines Irregular lines outside the printed area of stamps occurring in letterpress plates where extraneous metal (flashing) has not been removed in the manufacturing and therefore picks up ink during printing.
Die Block of metal bearing a part of a stamp design, with a space for insertion of a separate piece of metal carrying the remainder.
Sheet A sheet of stamps made up of different values, designs or a normal sheet overprinted or surcharged in a similar way enabling a complete set of stamps to be obtained from a single sheet.
Envelopes Stationery bearing more than one kind of stamp embossed thereon.
Perforation Perforation involving two or more different gauges along the same side of the same stamp.
Plates Printing plates each bearing only part of the design which are cut in such a way that they can be inked separately.
Postage Stamps Stamps issued by some countries for compulsory use on mail posted on certain days.
Registration Practice used by many postal authorities when coins, jewellery or other valuables are sent through the post.
Generated Stamps Labels whose design and text are entirely produced by dot matrix or ink jet printer from a word processor.
Camp Mail Mail from the concentration camps established by the Nazi regime in Germany and occupied Europe distinguished by special postmarks, stationery and stamps.
Parcel Stamps Stamps issued by Italy since 1953 and used by carriers and freight companies operating local parcel delivery services at rates lower than the Government service.
A country jointly ruled by two powers (e.g. New Hebrides).
Variety Stamp with a circular uncoloured patch in the design. (Usually only on a random single stamp).
Variety A variety which appears in the same position on every sheet.
Fee Stamps Fiscal issues to pay fees levied for various consular services e.g. passport renewals.
Mail Mail sent from Consulates acting as postal agencies often using a distinctive cancellation.
Post Offices Post Offices maintained in foreign embassies and consulates by various European powers.
Impression Machine
Overprint An overall overprint applied without regard to positioning on the individual stamps in a sheet.
Mailing A procedure where mail posted in a country is air freighted to another country for sorting and onward despatch.
Letters Letter inscribed in the sheet margins of some British stamps as an accountancy measure.
Marks Security endorsement by overprint etc to curb theft.
Numbers Numerals engraved in the margins of plates used for the production of stamps in certain countries.
Overprints Overprints applied to stamps as a precaution in cases of fraud or theft.
States Indian States formerly in convention with the Indian Empire.
Plate Engraving Alternative name for the intaglio process, so called because copper plates were mainly used.
Corks with various fancy designs cut into their surface used to obliterate postage stamps.
Block Four or more stamps from the corner of a sheet with selvedge attached.
Reels The first (1850) circular typeset issues of British Guiana.
A forgery intended to defraud the Post Office.
Stamps with counterfoils as distinct from coupons.
Issues Term used by Royal Mail to describe the distinctive definitives issued in different parts of the
An attachment to a stamp which conveys additional information.
Services Special services operated by various governments for the transmission of official correspondence and armed forces' mail or mail of commercial enterprises.
Envelope or wrapper for letters and packets.
Paper A thin hard wove paper supplied by Cowan & Sons Ltd for postage stamps of New Zealand.
Nickname for the first stamps of Uganda (1895).
Plate Printing plate showing cracks caused by pressure in manufacture, during operation or general deterioration after long usage.
Covers Covers salvaged from an aircraft or train crash. (q.v Wreck Covers).
Stamps Stamps with a crease which depreciates their value.
Transfer Lithographed stamp with an incomplete or distorted design caused by a defect in the transfer paper when the design was applied to the stone.
Hatching Crossed lines incised in intaglio to create shaded areas.
Post When the postal service was organised in Great Britain all routes went via London, but to avoid delay direct cross country routes were adopted and were known as Cross Posts.
Agents Agents who act for Governments of many territories in selling stamps to dealers in many parts of the world.
Watermark Watermark in the form of a crown.
Circle A hand-stamp indicating that postage has been prepaid and the country or postal area of origin.
to Order.
Facer Canceller Automatic machine used in British Sorting Offices for segregating different classes of mail facing them the right way up prior to automatic cancellation of the postage stamps on them.
Stamps Postage stamps used as units of currency during shortages of coinage, sometimes deliberately printed on card for this purpose.
Issues Stamps at present in use.
Numbers Numbers inserted in the plate margins by some British and early colonial stamps to indicated the order in which the plates were made.
Barcode
Smilers Sheets (q.v Smilers Sheets)
Stamps Fiscal issues made to denote payment of customs duty.
A cancelling device which cuts through stamps and postal stationery to prevent re-use.
Variety Denotes a stamp printed from a cliché from which a portion has been accidentally cut away in trimming.
A non-adhesive stamp which has been cut from items of Postal Stationery for postal use.
Stamp with non rectangular design whose attached imperforate margins form a rectangle, though not necessarily a square.
Register The cutting of watermarked paper in order that the design of the watermark falls into the correct position in each sheet of stamps.
Shape Embossed stamp or impression from postal stationery trimmed close to the outline of the impression.
Apparatus for printing copies of a design which has been occasionally been used for stamp production. A stencil is cut over which an ink roller is passed leaving an impression on the printing paper below.
Flaw Repetitive blemish in a stamps design caused by a defect in the printing cylinder from which the stamp was printed.
Number Printer's mark in the margin of a sheet of stamps to identify the printing cylinder from which it came.
Alphabet Official alphabet of Russia which has been used with modifications on all Russian issues and has appeared also on stamps of various Slav countries.
also apply to an overprint (q.v) or a surcharge (q.v)
A regularly issued stamp intended for everyday postal use over a long period.
A raised line on a coin caused by a crack in the minting die.
Mail Mail damaged in transit including crash and wreck covers.
Roll Hollow wire surfaced cylinder of a paper making machine, which bears pressure on the partly formed paper to determine its texture and variations in thickness for watermarks (q.v).
Name used by British Post office for an express service guaranteeing next day delivery anywhere in the United Kingdom.
Breaks in the "jubilee lines", namely the printer's frame around a pane of stamps.
Corner See Coin Daté.
Stamps Stamps which incorporate the year date of production in their design.
the Stamp Day set aside by many issuing authorities for postal and philatelic publicity.
Term for a country that has ceased to issue stamps.
Letter which cannot be delivered to the addressee because it bears an incorrect or inadequate address.
Office Where dead letters (q.v) are held by the Post Office.
Edge The natural rough edge of paper as it leaves the a paper making machine. Découpage French term denoting a means of adjusting the pressure of the printing plate by "cut outs" from parts of the printed design taking the form of a composite layer of sheets of cut outs to obtain lighter or deeper impression from the plate as required.
Excessive colour along the edge of a stamp design printed in relief, caused by over inking.
Additional etching in photoengraving to emphasise lines.
Plates A stamp printing plate, whose surface has been deliberately scored to ensure that it is not used again.
Cancellation Postmark designed that when stamp was cancelled the effigy of the ruler was not defaced e.g. Sicily 1859
Stamp Postage stamps intended for everyday use over a substantial period of time, distinguished from commemorative stamps (q.v).
Rue One of the world's leading firms of security printers.
Name invented by De La Rue to signify a printing process made specifically for stamp production.
Mail Mail held up in transmission through the post and thus indicated by means of a label q.v
Error Error made by Postal Authority to defeat philatelic speculation.
Point Code The delivery part of the postcode not visible to the public
Unused postage stamps are termed "demonetised" when the issuing authority refuses to accept them as valid for-pre paying postage and will not exchange them for money.
A stamp's monetary value usually expressed in numbers or words.
Stamps Stamps provided for use of government departments on official mail.
Type Term describing stamps whose designs differ from one another only in detail.
Process by which sulphur is removed from stamp colours which have been distorted through sulphuretting (q.v).
Post (German) German Post Office.
The circlet of gold and jewels forming Queen Victoria's headdress on many of the earlier stamps of her reign and that of Queen Elizabeth II
Roulette Another name for the French Percé en Losanges (q.v)
Paper Type of paper containing a continuous coloured thread or threads of cotton manufactured by John Dickinson & Co..
piece of metal on which the design of a stamp is first engraved is called the master die (q.v). After hardening it is used directly to reproduce identical impressions on the plate from which the stamp will be printed or from which subsidiary Dies or Rollers are derived.
A process for cutting paper by means of variously shaped dies under pressure.
Any blemish or unusual mark on a die from which printing surfaces have been produced shows on every stamp reproduced from that die.
Upon completion of a die, trial printings are taken. They are the final checks before the plate is made.
(German) Official.
(German) Official post
Printing A process pioneered in Australia where arrangements were made for 2000 Olympic Stamps to be printed in six different locations throughout the country.
(Spanish) A type of mail or stage coach.
Mail Mail sent by or on behalf of a Diplomat Attaché in the Diplomatic Bag for security reasons.
Mark A mark applied by the Post Office to undelivered mail to indicate its ultimate destination.
Postage Stamps printed to denote sale at a discount.
Mail Letters suspected of carrying infection from disease were subject to a cleansing treatment either on board ship or at a lazaret (quarantine station).
Marks Circular floral ornaments on Perkins, Bacon plates in 1851.
Mark Triangular handstruck mark denoting the prepayment of postage, devised by William Dockwra for use in his London Penny Post of 1680/82.
Blade Long thin flexible strip of steel with a finely ground edge used in photogravure and other intaglio printing processes. The doctor blade removes excess ink from the non printing surface.
Blade Flaw Caused by Doctor Blade picking up a foreign body which scratches a fine line on the cylinder. Until worked out this can cause a semi constant flaw.
Philatelique Official (French) Official philatelic document issued by the French post office which includes a copy of the issued stamp cancelled on the day of issue, a monocolour engraving of the stamp, descriptive text and a large topical engraving with an embossed control seal.
Stamps Fiscal or revenue stamps issued for collecting payment of taxes due on various documents.
Mail Mail carried in the Yukon and Alaska by Dog Teams during the Winter.
Mail Mail posted and delivered within the same country
Stamp A postage stamp whose validity is confined to domestic mail q.v.
Labels Labels attached to Belgian stamps from 1893 - 1914 bearing an instruction "Do not deliver on Sunday"
(Russian) To Pay
(French) Customs
Geneva The 1843 Cantonal issue of Geneva (Switzerland) so called because it consisted of a 10c stamp printed in a double design, each half useable as a 5c stamp within the city.
Impression A stamp on which the design or part of the design has been printed twice.
Letter Duplication of the corner or check letters on early GB line engraved stamps.
Paper Term used to describe paper which is made up of two different layers for example New
Perforation A stamp that has passed through the perforation machine twice.
Plate Printed Term to describe the method by which a stamp with a design comprising two parts each printed from a separate plate was produced.
Separation Sheet or part of a sheet which has been perforated twice.
Strike An extra fortuitous impression of the die on the mould used in relief printing for repetition of the design in the building of the printing base.
Transfer An extra and fortuitous transfer of the design to the stone in the Lithographic process. (q.v Re-Entry)
Head British halfpenny and penny stamps of 1911/13 reproducing a three-quarter profile photograph by W and D Downey of King George V.
Access Mail from other carriers delivered by Royal Mail
registration mark of the German Dornier multi-engined aircraft being the first to fly the
Posting
A postal packet delivered to an address in the same postal delivery area as the office where it was posted.
Letter Term for a type character plucked from its setting by the inking roller because the type was not held firmly in place on the formé.
A stamp having a weak appearance due to paper being too dry for the intaglio process.
Stamps with values expressed in two currencies.
term for postage due labels (q.v To Pay Labels).
Absence of identifying inscription found in various forms on cancellations and in stamp design. (q.v Mute Cancel)
Cancellation Double or dual postmarks so called because they comprise a date stamp showing the name of the post office as well as a numeral.
Copies identical to those already in one's collection.
given to the function of a stamp as defined by the inscription.
The printing plate used to print the value or name and value on stamps.(q.v Frame, Vignette, Head Plate, Key Plate)
Paper coloured throughout because a dye was added to the pulp during manufacture.
Wilding.
A major production mistake that creates a collectible variation.
A printing process where the design is carved into metal for detailed impressions.
Lettering or decoration applied to the edge of a coin.
Seal Charity labels issued at Easter, mainly in South Africa.
A cheap postal service for bulk postings and printed matter.
Gum Type of gum applied in patterns or blobs to the backs of some stamps issued after the
Label Used during war period to be applied to covers that were to be re-used.
Eye Perforator Perforating machine which includes a controlling device to ensure that the perforation holes are positioned accurately.
Engraving Process for producing photogravure cylinders by laser scanning an original photograph to create a digital image recorded on a computer disc which is then used to drive an electronic system for engraving cylinders.
Stamps A system whereby postage could be downloaded from an internet web site and put on envelopes and postcards using a computer printer.
Method of copying a design by the electro deposition of copper in a mould.
Electronic Letter Sorting Indicator Equipment (SPLSM)
A system of electronic communication whereby messages produced by computer are transmitted by means of a modem and a server.
Name given to watermarked heraldic devices appearing in corners of early stamps of GB.
Stamp Usually a postage stamp created on paper by method of embossing (q.v)
Stamping in coloured or colourless relief, the paper itself being distorted by pressure between matched dies. En Épargne (French) term meaning "in relief" used to describe the type of printing press used in the letterpress system.
Paper Highly glazed paper coated with a mixture of zinc white and glue.
"Ink" A paint used for printing stamps e.g. Tibet 1912-33
Postage Stamps Stamps encased in small cases with a transparent front and back used as small change when a shortage of coinage occurred.
Printing on the back of a stamp.
Turning Mechanical engraving of symmetrical patterns on metal. Engraver's Proof Trial impressions taken during the course of making the die.
A process where the design of the stamp is cut into a metal die or plate.
An envelope, postcard or wrapper, with stamps affixed or printed on it to prepay postage and in a complete condition.
Letter A complete folded letter sheet with the communication on the inside and address on the outside, together with relevant postal markings and adhesive stamps.
Term for a subject on a printing plate or cylinder produced by the Perkins Die and Mill process.
An envelope is a piece of paper, to each edge of which is attached a flap with the intention that these four flaps should be folded over so as to form a container for a message. Usually three of these flaps are fixed in position with gum, making a pocket, the fourth is left open to be closed after a message has been inserted.
Stamp A stamp embossed on an envelope.
Term for the first issue of Belgium (1849) Épreuve De Luxe Luxury Proof of French Stamps.
Study and collection of commemorative labels.
A stamp which inadvertently has something wrong or some technical feature but has been issued by a postal authority.
Paper Paper made by Wiggins Teape from esparto grass and wood pulp.
A design proposed which may not be adopted, or an initial "proof" of a design, printed as intended for the final stamp.
Special term applied to the process by which the surface of a metal plate is removed by an acid for the purpose of printing.
Term for adhesive labels such as airmail, express and registration which are affixed to letters.
Stamps Stamps issued by many countries of Europe since 1956 with the word Europa inscribed on them Examiners' Marks These are applied to postal packets to denote examination by censors in time of war or by customs authorities.
Club A group formed to exchange stamps.
Holographic printing on thin plastic, pioneered in Australia.
Ship Letter Handstamp applied to letters written by the consignee of goods carried by ship exempting him from the normal ship letter charge.
Labels Name for labels issued to publicise exhibitions. (q.v Poster Stamps)
Mail Service An international service under the auspices of the UPU for the acceleration of mail.
Postmark A postmark produced during the trials of new types of handstamps or cancelling machine. e.g. Skeleton Postmark
Committee Groups of specialist philatelists whose function is to express an opinion on the authenticity of stamps or other philatelic item.
Name given to the examination of a stamp or other philatelic item by a committee of experts with a view to establishing authenticity.
Labels & Marks Devices used by postal authorities to give reasons for surcharging unpaid or underpaid mail or to give reasons for non delivery.
A stamp booklet taken apart and displayed page by page.
Labels Labels usually printed in bright colours to denote express and special delivery mail.
Letter Stamps Postage stamps denoting the fee payable in respect of accelerated mail subject to special handling.
Hole Perforation hole appearing in a sheet margin as the first or last of a row of perforation holes.
Distortion Flaw caused by the application of force to a subject on a printing plate.
Extension Hole An additional perforation hole alongside an Extension Hole (q.v) to help identify the position on a rotary perforator (q.v) where repair may be necessary.
Label).
An envelope cancelled on the first official day a stamp was issued.
A fake stamp or overprint intended to deceive collectors.
A reproduction stamp not intended to deceive collectors.
Prussian War.
used with reference either to a stamp's design or to the print used.
The denomination inscribed on a stamp: its official selling price.
Canceller Table Equipment designed for the automatic facing and cancelling of mail.
Indicator Mark preprinted mail: 1 or 2 with facing bars
Copy or imitation of the design and colour of a stamp.
Stamps Stamps where colours or papers have faded through exposure to light, chemicals or water.
French Colonial key type.
Stamp Stamp which has been treated to disguise defects in its condition.
Cancel Postmark with a pictorial design.
Stamps Pieces of paper which purport to be postage stamps but bear the names of imaginary places. Farley's Follies American stamps of 1934-7 released imperforate on the authority of the Postmaster General
New Zealand service giving accelerated domestic overnight delivery and overseas airmail on payment of a fee.
coated paper
Day Cover
International de Philatelie (q.v FIP) Association of national philatelic federations set up in 1926 to safeguard the interests of stamp collectors at an international level. It also accredits major International
(German) Field Post Office.
of European Philatelic Societies.
Post Office (FPO) A Post Office established for use by troops on active service.
Stamp Any Facsimile, imitation or representation of any stamp.
Clause Post From fifth clause of Act of Parliament 1801 authorising under guarantee certain village posts for the conveyance of letters to the neighbouring post town.
Type Design in which a numeral is the most prominent feature.
Federation International de Philatelie)
Day Cover (FDC) Cover bearing a postmark showing that the stamp was used on the first day of issue.
Flight Cover Souvenir covers carried on flights inaugurating new airmail routes or new airmail services.
for Federation Internationale des Societies Aerophilateliques.
Cancellation of Postage Stamps Many postage stamps have been validated for payment of revenue or fiscal duties and taxes.
Stamps Term used to denote issues made for payment of tax, duty or fees other than postage.(q.v
Type of machine postmark in which a design resembling a flag is substituted for the usual wavy line.
illustré (French) pictorial slogan postmark.
Printing plate that is flat as opposed to one which is curved or cylindrical. The process in which it is used is called flat bed printing.
Sorting Machine
philatelic term which refers to any blemish in a stamp's design.
A form of rotary letterpress printing which derives its name from the use of flexible rubber plates and quick drying inks.
Safe Mail Mail carried in a special fire proof safe aboard ship.
A papier maché sheet used to make a mould from which a stereotype (q.v) is made.
Cover Covers or cards which bear markings to show that they were carried by airmail.
Some stamp inks fluoresce in different colours when viewed under ultra violet light.
Franchise Militaire. Postage stamps overprinted FM given to servicemen allowing them freedom form basic postage.
Stamps printed on paper faced with metal foil.
Transfer In Lithography (q.v) when a transfer (q.v) used in building up a design on the printing base becomes folded part of the stamp's design will show signs of the fold.
Mail Mail sent by troops serving in the field during wars and military campaigns.
Mail Stamps Stamps issued by several countries specifically for use on mail going overseas.
Term used to describe the historical predecessors of a philatelic group or issue.
Fraudulent imitations of stamp designs, overprints, surcharges or cancellations. Forgeries are produced to defraud either collectors or the revenue or for wartime propaganda purposes.
Describes the shape and size of a stamp. Formé An assemblage of clichés or type arranged and set up in the correct order for printing.
Agent Individuals or organisations undertaking the onward dispatch of mail.
Post Office
Controls Public accountancy marks consisting of a letter above two figures separated with a bar.
Stamps Stamps which are specially designed so that they can be divided into parts.
Type of printing used in Germany until 1940 common in overprints and stamp inscriptions.
Labels Postage stamps produced by micro processor machines manufactured by the Frama Company of Switzerland.
Outer border of a stamp design (q.v Duty Plate).
Stamps Private stamps which are issued to charitable or national institutions to permit mail bearing these stamps to go through the mail free of charge.
From the days of Queen Elizabeth I to those of Queen Victoria, Ministers, Members of both Houses of
Stamps Stamps issued by some countries to show that no postage is payable.
or Front Cut out front of a letter showing the name and address, together with the endorsement of the sender, date of posting and signature entitling the sender to frank the letter.
mail transmitted free of charge.
A service licensed by Royal Mail to business which enables customers to write to a business without having to pay postage. The licensee pays the postage.
Entry Term used in line engraved recess printing when a faulty design on a plate is replaced by a new impression before stamps are printed q.v Re-entry
The address side of an envelope from which the back has been detached.
Fellow of the Royal Philatelic Society London.
Inks Inks which run when in contact with water etc or which fade if exposed to a bright light.
Portraits of persons on stamps facing full front.
Mail Mail which has been treated to prevent the spread of infection (q.v Disinfected Mail)
for examples of the 1d Black.
The adhesive coating applied to the back of a stamp.
OF PHILATELIC TERMS
(Grande Consommation) emergency paper used for certain French stamps during and after WWI.
Term synonymous with electro typing.
Watermark Watermark representing the insignia of the Order of the Garter, large, medium and small.
Term describing both stamp separation and the instrument used to measure them (q.v Perforation Gauge)
Collection One that embraces stamps of many countries.
Letter Office Name by which the British Post Office was originally known.
Postal Union Original name for the Universal Postal Union (q.v)
Smilers In addition to Customised Smilers sheets (q.v Smilers) Royal; Mail provides the stamps with a printed motif on the labels in place of a personal photograph.
the longest lived German stamp also used in many German Colonies. Glacé Paper Paper that has been given a glossy finish by glazing with friction or applied heat.
Mail Mail conveyed by glider.
Eyes Nickname for the second issue Brazilian stamps.
Skin A thin translucent resin based paper used for the 1886 parcel stamps of Germany.
Parcels Overprint on British stamps used for parcels dispatched on government service.
General Postal Union.(q.v)
Consommation see GC
Paper Paper having coloured cotton, linen, jute or wool fibres embodied within it.
Line Vertical black lines printed on the back of certain British stamps in 1957 for experiments in automatic sorting.
Printing by which the ink is held in tiny cells etched into the cylinder. Once known as photogravure (q.v) when photography was involved in the process.
Stamps Special stamps issued with labels attached giving various forms of greeting.
Rex Imperator.
A security device in the form of small square dots embossed on certain stamps of the USA and Peru devised by C.F Steel of National Bank Note Company 1861-62.
Mark Mark on stamp to indicate that it is authorised for postal purposes.
Delivery Service introduced by Royal Mail (1993) with distinctive labels and stationery guaranteeing delivery by mid-day on the day following posting see Special Delivery..
Stamps Stamps issued by guerrilla forces dating from 1895.
Arrow Marginal mark on stamp sheets indicating the centre point of the sheet or pane.
Lines and Dots Fine lines or dots marked upon the plate as a guide for the engraver when transferring impressions. Guilloché (French) Engine turning (q.v).
adhesive substance found on the back of stamps when sold to the public to enable the stamp to be stuck to the envelope etc.
Bars Lines on the gummed side of stamps breaking up the pattern of the gum and preventing the stamps from curling.
The space left between two panes of stamps can be vertical or horizontal to allow them to be guillotined, if required.
A stamp mounted with a hinge, often leaving a small mark on the gum.
An early coin struck manually using dies and a hammer.
The winning bid amount before fees and taxes are added.
Diagonal white lines which cross the outer corners of stamps printed from the reserve plates.
Process A photo mechanical method of representing light and shade by dots of varying size, extensively used for the reproduction of illustrations in newspapers and magazines.
Paper Paper made by hand in moulds and thus in separate sheets instead of machine made continuous rolls.
Colour applied to a stamp by hand after printing.
Implement used to apply a postmark by hand.
Postage Stamps Marks made by a handstamp direct on to postal packets to show pre- payment of postage.
Perforations A means of perforating whole sheets at a single stroke.
Name given to the reaper design stamps of Hungary.
Series of shading lines usually parallel and close together.
Strip Clear plastic strip with adhesive backing used to hold mint stamps on an album page without wetting the gum.
One of a pair of plates used for printing key type designs. The head plate is used to print the portrait.
Stamps Stamps bearing a premium for combating disease.
Method of printing from a gelatine base which holds a design in a special dye.
A chemical substance of the zinc sulphide group added to printing ink to facilitate electronic sorting of mail.
Mail Mail carried by Helicopter.
French term for photogravure.
Dates Date of manufacture of postage stamps concealed somewhere in the design.
Packets Parcels of banknotes and security documents sent through the post on behalf of the clearing banks 1970-73, sometimes distinguished by red labels inscribed HVP (q.v)
Post Office Motor Vehicle used in USA to operate a postal service in rural areas.
Thin transparent gummed slip used for affixing stamps to an album page.
Her Majesty's Office of Works
Cancellation Stamps from which holes have been punched out for cancellation.
Device creating a three-dimensional effect in different colours when tilted or angled to the light.
Envelope Envelope bearing an inscription signifying its use by forces on active service who certified on their honour that the contents did not disclose any military matters.
Datestamp A circular datestamp having an additional concentric segment around the top in the form of a hood for the purpose of containing a distinctive inscription.
Posts Stamps used in connection with postal services organised by hotels in remote areas.
[Head?] Post Office
A humidifying box or sweat box for removing unwanted paper from stamps.
Value Packet (q.v).
World Distribution Centre
Peroxide A chemical bleaching and cleaning fluid.
Perforation Form of perforation in which paper is punched out in narrow strips instead of the usual round holes.
A stamp issued without perforations and requiring cutting from a sheet.
A stamp with part of the design printed upside down.
Mail.
Stamp British post office competition held at the 1912 Jubilee International Stamp Exhibition. The winning design was not accepted for use by the post office!
Code letter or number printed during the automatic sorting of mail to identify the sorter or machine.
Postage Postage stamps which are regarded as illegal or those which contravene the postal laws of one or more countries e.g. Rhodesia
Stamp A stamp that carries the name of a legitimate country but was not authorised by the postal administration of that country for production.
International Labour Office
Perforations Simulated perforations printed around stamps.
Mail Processor
IMP without the segregation and culling section
Stamps printed on paper not perforated and not provided with other means of easy separation other than by scissors or knife..
Between stamps normally perforated but with a line of perforations inadvertently omitted between adjoining rows due to faulty manufacture.
Stamp applied by a machine to paper to leave an impression e.g. a revenue stamp
Before the early stamps of Great Britain were issued to the public an Imprimatur or registration sheet was printed on watermarked paper and in the colour selected for the denomination/colour to be registered at Somerset House. Normally it refers to an individual stamp from the registration sheet. Imprimés (French) Printed papers sent by post
The name of the printer inscribed in the sheet margins.
Block A block of stamps taken from a part of the sheet where the printer's name or imprint is located in the margin.
Paper A thin soft absorbent paper of Chinese or Japanese origin made from Bamboo fibres used in taking fine proofs from the engraved plates.
Marking A group of letters etc. printed to the left of a meter mark.
Issues Stamps with a huge face value e.g. Germany 1923.
of pigments, oils, varnishes, driers, toners with compounds and fugitive chemicals made in accordance with the type of printing process.
Slogan Inscription applied by ink jet printer to covers during automatic sorting.
Mail Stamps Stamps meant for internal mail and thus inscribed.
Revenue Inscription found on British fiscal stamps to denote their use to pay tax or revenue charges
(German) Island post (Channel Islands during WWII.
by Hand A minor type of hand painting in which missing accents have been touched in on the stamp manually.
Labels, Marks and Etiquettes Widely used by postal authorities to indicate special handling of mail in transit, e.g. fragile, perishable.
Mail Letters, packets, parcels insured against loss on the payment of a special fee by the sender.
Plate engraved with incised lines or cuts for printing.
Electronic facsimile system for the transmission of documents.
Sorting Machine
Die A die made from the original die to facilitate alterations being effected.
Perforations Perforations by Perkins Bacon printings of 1860s in which perforations produced by a certain machine deteriorated from the original clean cut to intermediate and finally rough.
Four State Code coding system used on mail by Royal Mail
Reply Coupons Slips issued by member countries of the UPU to provide a convenient method of sending the reply postage with letters sent overseas.
Mail Correspondence from persons interned during time of war.
An interpanneau pair consists of two stamps with a blank label in between.
Seals Circular adhesive labels used to seal the flap of an envelope or to signify official correspondence.
Mail Mail which has been detained or delayed.
Perforation A means of strengthening strips of stamps used in vending machines where gaps are created in the line of perforations by the omission or wider spacing of certain pins.
Stamp Postage stamp which has been demonetised or is no longer available for prepayment of postage.
Centre A stamp in which the central vignette is upside down in relation to the frame.
Frame A stamp in which the frame is upside down in relation to the centre.
Overprint A stamp whose overprint is upside down in relation to the stamp.
Watermark Watermark upside down in relation to the image of the stamp.
Vouching Office
Revenue
A type of ink which gives a shiny iridescent effect to the solid part of the background. Used as a security feature.
Perforations Perforations out of alignment or of mixed gauge.
Term used to denote the quantity of stamps of given design or date sent out for public use.
Head Uncoloured area of the head of Queen Victoria on 1841 1d red of Great Britain when seen from the back. Blueing in the paper caused by printing of ink that contained prussiate of potash on damp paper. The area of the head had less ink, so the white shadow of the head becomes apparent.
process.
Man, stamps issued for use in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are now described as "Country Issues" q.v
1879.
A Farley.
Paper Soft fine paper made from the bark of the mulberry tree, long fibres accounting for its strength.
Paper Paper with a slight overlap where two strips of stamps from a sheet have been joined at the selvage to form a continuous coil.
Issue An issue of stamps by two or more independent countries to commemorate the same event.
Line The coloured line that often appears between coil stamps where the curved plate on a rotary press meet.
Stamps Low value stamps specially designed and produced to prepay postage on newspapers, periodicals etc.
Tax Stamps Stamps denoting taxes on newspapers but often conferring free transmission through the post.
Line Coloured lines printed in the sheet or pane margins of certain British and Commonwealth issues.
(German) Jewish post
Term used for unsolicited advertising mail. Jusqu'a Mark A mark found usually on airmail meaning "as far as" followed by the name of a terminal.
2000. Amounts payable are known shown by use of a rubber stamp.
King Edward the Seventh of Great Britain
King Edward the Eighth of Great Britain
The plate which prints the general design on stamps, specifically certain British Commonwealth issues requiring two separate printings.
Term for uniform design used in stamps of many colonial empires in the 19th & 20th centuries.
George the Fifth of Great Britain
George the Sixth of Great Britain
Cancellation An cancellation that completely obliterates a postage stamp.
Used stamps on piece sold by weight.
Kaiserliche und Königliche Imperial and Royal
in 1993.
A printing process using flat surfaces and chemical treatments.
An item or group of items offered together in an auction.
An auction conducted in real time with active bidding.
Any philatelic item not valid for postage.
Stamps Stamps with labels.
The ship depicted on a local stamp of Trinidad issued by David Bryce the owner and captain in
Paper which shows a pattern of watermarked lines set closely together.
of Stamps Angle of placement of stamp on a letter may indicate a message of a romantic nature.
Cover Souvenir posted on the last day of an issue of stamps.
Charge made on mail posted after the normal collection hours to catch the last post.
Issue Portrait has a laurel leaf see French issue of 1862-70.
q.v Disinfected Mail
of Nations Stamps Swiss postage stamps overprinted "Société de Nations"
Card Postal Stationery consisting of a folded card with or without an imprinted postage stamp and gummed outer edges. q.v Air Mail Letter Cards
of Marque Government Permit allowing a specific ship to sail without convoy, the more speedily to deliver mail.
Form of printing from a relief surface.
A piece of paper, intended to have a message placed upon it and to be folded for transmission.
Stamps Postage stamps used on mail of the Government Life Insurance Department of New Zealand.
Term relating to a block of stamps showing the gutter lines which are printed to mark the divisions of the stamp sheet into quarters or halves.
A method of engraving lines in recess on steel or copper to produce plates suitable for the
Perforation applied in straight lines and covering either the width or the length of the whole sheet in one perforating operation.
Information Sample/System
A printing process.
Carriage Labels Labels which prepay postage in areas where the post office does not provide a collection or delivery service.
Stamps Stamp issues used within a limited area of a town or district or over a particular land, sea or air route.
Prints Postage stamps printed in London from plates manufactured there.
Letter Term used to denote a letter arriving at an office of delivery or transit without cancellation or postmark of origin.
Postage stamps issued for use on greetings cards on St Valentine's Day.
quality mark: rear marking on mail processed by IMP
(Dutch) Airmail.
(German) Military airmail
(German) Airmail
(Afrikaans) Airmail
The glow emitted by a stamp when put under ultraviolet light.
who gave it the name "Odontométre" (q.v).
A stamp in unused condition, often retaining its original gum.
A protective transparent holder used to display stamps safely.
A small symbol or letter indicating where a coin was produced.
A machine-struck coin with more consistent design and edges.
of a private vessel for carrying mail.
Cancellation The obliteration of postage stamps by mechanical means.
British definitive stamps issued since 1967 the Queen's head on which was designed by Arnold Machin.
Joseph Pseudonym for a forger of cancellations struck on genuine unused postage stamps of the
A magnifying glass for the close examination of stamps.
Horse drawn coaches used for the transport of mail.
A system of automatic stamps used in USA and Canada using Pitney Bowes postage meters adapted for use as coin-operated machines.
A facility offered to business users by Royal Mail
Varieties Variations of importance either in type, colour, design or format from the basic design.
q.v Découpage
Cross A cross of eight points, formed of four triangles with their top points meeting in the centre and their bases indented. Also used to describe the obliterating device used in Great Britain to cancel early adhesive stamps in the period 1840-44.
Paper A coarse strong paper of light texture originally manufactured from manila hemp.
Overprint Handwriting applied to a stamps face to denote some special use or particular value.
Paper used for Latvia's first stamps printed on German military maps.
Paper surrounding a single sheet, pane or sheet.
Wing The extra unprinted margin
Advertising Announcement of commercial nature printed in the sheet margins.
Guide Marks Marks in the margins of sheets of stamps serving as a guide for the printer in perforating and trimming the sheets.
Inscription Inscriptions in sheet margins of stamps which may include printer's name.
Figure symbolising France featured on some post war issues.
Post Offices Post Offices operating on board ships.
Mail Mail taken ashore from naval vessels and entitled to free postage.
Die An original die from which secondary dies etc are derived in the production of printing plates.
Pair Two stamps from the same position of a printing plate but printed at different times and in different colours.
Printing term for a mould which is used to describe the counterpart of a die.
Study of maximum cards.
Card Postcards on which the picture shown has the same theme as the stamp and postmark. The term should not be applied where the picture side is a complete reproduction of the stamp. However Royal Mail regularly issue postcards (also described as PHQ Cards q.v for new stamp issues with enlarged reproductions of the stamps, and incorrectly describes them as maximum cards.
Box) A post box on a quayside and aboard packet boats in which mail could be posted up to the last moment when the quayside box was taken aboard. On arrival at the ship's destination, the contents of the box were processed at the nearest post office and postmarked MB or BM (Boite Mobile). Service was discontinued at the outbreak of the second World War.
Data Entry Centre
Name for the stamps of Belgium 1849-50.
East Forces WW2
Cancel Postmark used in Ireland incorporating a figure as on the prow of a ship.
French key type 1900-27 from the name of the designer Luc-Olivier Merson.
texture of paper
Ink Ink which leaves a shiny surface when it dries.
Mark The impression upon metered mail which indicates postage has been paid.
Tape Strip of gummed paper used for affixing meter stamps to bulky objects.
Mail Mail franked by an automatic machine to show that postage has been paid.
A process to create portraits from hundreds of tiny images.
A unit of measurement of the thickness of paper. One millionth part of a metre.
Equipment capable of microscopic printing.
Marks Postal markings which include the name of a place and a number indicating its distance from a central reference point, usually the capital of the country concerned.
Abbreviation for "Military Administration"
Franchise Stamps Stamps permitting military forces to send letters etc free of postage (q.v FM) Millésime (French) Numbers recording the year of printing on certain stamps of France.
Similar to Cyclostyle (q.v).
Sheet Sheet of stamps smaller than normal and often containing only one stamp or specimen of each denomination in a series.
Varieties Slight variations from the normal stamp, of interest to specialist collectors.
Stamp in a perfect condition, uncancelled and having its original gum.
Print An impression which is a mirror image of the intended stamp design.
Colour Shift of colour caused by the printing process.
Mixture Used stamps sold by weight from religious organisations.
Name for first stamps of Hawaii.
Franking Term used by collectors to denote covers bearing the stamps of two or more countries.
Perforation A sheet bearing misplaced perforations of one gauge and also correctly applied perforations of another gauge.
Letter Office
Post Office Caravan, trailer or vehicle equipped for use as a travelling post office. Moiré A pattern of wavy lines simulating watered silk, printed on postage stamps as a security device.
Letter Letter containing coin or banknotes.
(Dutch) Specimen
Die The original engraved die in line engraving.
French key type of 1900 named after designer Eugène Louis Mouchon.
Counterparts of a die used for shaping or casting metal to form a printing plate.
A stamp hinge.
Everest Expedition Poster Stamps (q.v) designed to raise funds for the 1924 Everest Expedition.
Mint Unused stamp showing traces of stamp mounts on reverse.
Term for sticking a stamp on an album page by means of a hinge.
Stamps Special stamps released in mourning for heads of state and other important people.
Box q.v MB
Facsimiles Facsimiles of letters carried by balloon from Paris during the siege 1870/1 addressed to Mrs Simpson of London and bearing copies of the appropriate stamps and postal markings.
de tri a tasseurs
(Spanish) Specimen applied to stamps distributed by the UPU
The first letter sheets and envelopes officially issued in Great Britain in 1840, with prepaid postage, designed by Wm Mulready.
Caricature The official Mulready cover and envelope was not popular. Private firms printed envelopes and covers in many numerous designs ridiculing the official stationery, resulting in its disuse. The caricatures did not prepay postage and ordinary adhesive stamps had to be affixed.
Postmarks and Stamps Postmarks and stamps inscribed in two or more languages.
A group of stamps, usually of the same denomination, still attached to one another as sold by the post Office.
Pink First printing of Swiss Strubel stamps in 1854
(German) Specimen.
Obliterations void of any inscription to denote time and place of postings. (q.v Dumb cancel).
also re-gummed to simulate original gum that was earlier removed in use to increase its possible market value.
A stamp that has never been mounted and retains undisturbed original gum.
The study and collection of coins, banknotes and related currency.
That part of a key type in which the name of the country is inserted.
Perforation Perforations from machines constructed by David Napier & Sons, Lambeth.
Paper A paper produced locally from native products.
Mail Mail from ships of navies of various countries.
Livrer le Dimanche (French) Do not deliver on Sundays (q.v Dominical Label)
A security pattern printed on stamp paper usually before the stamp designs are printed.
service Where a dealer agrees to supply and a collector agrees to pay for all new issues of a chosen country (ies)
Stamps Stamps for prepaying postage on newspapers.
Tax Stamps Impressed or adhesive stamps for the prepayment of tax on newspapers and periodicals.
Stamps Special stamps to commemorate the New Year.
hinged
Special overnight parcel delivery service of Royal Mail.
(Japanese) Japan
Indicator Stamp (NVI) Term used by Royal Mail for a stamp which bears no monetary amount but shows the class of postage.
Cancellations Obliterations which incorporate numbers as means of identifying the office of posting.
Marine Gardens on 16 August 1939, a souvenir of the Williamson Undersea Expedition.
The stamp’s original adhesive layer as issued by the postal authority.
Additional text or design printed onto an existing stamp.
The front side of a coin, often featuring a portrait or monarch.
Mail or on bulk postings of business mail.
Active service.
Air Transmission.
Roulette A type of separation in which the cuts are aslant and parallel. Also known as "Percé en lignes oblique"
Term meaning the cancellation of stamps.
Stamps about to go off sale.
No longer available over the Post Office counter.
Stamps Stamps overprinted or specially issued for use in territory occupied by military forces.
Coated Paper
Character Recognition
Instrument for measuring the number of perforation holes in a length of 2cm. q.v Perforation Gauge
of Exchange
Term used to denote inaccurate perforation resulting in unequal unprinted margins around the stamp design.
Used stamps which have been soaked off their backing paper.
Abroad Postal Agency of one country in another.
Labels Printed labels provided by Postal Authorities to denote services rendered other than those prepaid by means of postage stamps.
Paid Inscription on postmarks, stationery and adhesive labels used by government departments instead of official stamps or handstruck or machine stamps.
Stamps Stamps for use on government correspondence.
Litho Printing process in which the image on the printing plate is not applied directly to the paper but printed first onto a rubber covered cylinder which deposits the image on to the paper. og Original Gum.
Her (His) Majesty's Service.
Issues Sets of stamps in a common design as those issued in several territories simultaneously and only differing in the names of the countries and the values inscribed on them.
Term for adhesive stamps which have been cut from envelopes and are still attached to their paper backing. Also known as Kiloware (q.v)
An adhesive stamp on part of an envelope which usually shows the complete postmark or other information.
Representation of part of the British Regalia showing the globe surmounted by a cross used as a watermark device.
Origin Rurale. A handstruck mark applied to mail applied to mail handed to a letter carrier in rural areas of France.
A term used to denote a stamp officially issued for postal use as opposed to a reprint.
Gum A stamp which still possesses all or some of the gum with which it was issued.
Army Service"
Register One or more colours in printing being out of alignment with the others.
Mail Term for mail on any route across western Asia.
Packing substance used in relief printing (letterpress) to ensure that proper pressure is applied to each part of the stamp's design at the time of printing.
Delivery Stamps High value stamps issued in USA to prepay special handling fees on express packets sent overnight.
An additional feature or inscription applied to the face of a stamp after basic production has been completed.
Dominions Essay Printer's sample stamp produced by De La Rue to solicit orders from prospective customers.
Vouching Office: distribution office for designated postcode area
Stamps whose colour was originally red, yellow or orange which have turned deep brown or black due to atmospheric pollution.
One of the obliterators used to cancel British forces mail in the Crimean war (1854-57).
The study and collection of postage stamps, postal stationery and related postal history.
The rows of holes punched between stamps to make separation easier.
A smaller division of a larger sheet of stamps.
An official postal marking showing date and location of mailing.
The study of postal systems, routes, rates and historical mail usage.
A photographic printing method commonly used for detailed stamp production.
A specially struck coin with a highly polished finish intended for collectors.
A natural surface aging or toning that develops on coins over time.
A blank metal disc prepared for coin striking.
The ownership history of an item, often important for authenticity and value.
exhibitions.
and certain other privileged persons could "Frank" correspondence by signing their names on the front. Letters so franked were delivered free.
Letter The British Post Office operated a fleet of specially equipped Packet Boats which offered the public a speedier and safer service. To defray costs the letter rate was higher than the private vessels. Letters were market "Packet" (q.v Ship Letter)
Adress File
and Go
A postmark usually applied indicating prepayment of postage in cash rather than by an adhesive.
stamps joined horizontally.q.v Vertical pair
Parcel post stamps issued by Royal Greenland Trading Company.
Re-used Parchment. Material upon which two or more writings are found, one superimposed upon the other. The earlier writing was supposed to be erased but is often visible as well as the more recent.
French Colony key type used in West Africa 1906-1913.
sub section or part of a sheet of stamps.
Instrument for mechanically copying a flat design on the same or an altered scale.
Material of closely compacted wood or cloth fibres.
Error Stamps printed on paper of the wrong colour or watermark.
Makers Watermark A normal watermark incorporating the maker's name.
Maché Mould Stereos (q.v) are often cast from a mould made of Papier Maché (see Flong)
de Metz Message carried by balloon from Metz during siege August-October 1870.
French for packet boat and an international term for mail posted on board ship.
A flourish of a signature or the contraction of a signature see overprinted stamps of Cuba used in
Rico 1873-76.
By aeroplane.
Monté By manned balloon.
Non Monté By unmanned balloon.
Mail A form of airmail in which mail is delivered by parachute from an aeroplane.
Label Adhesive label issued to every GB Post Office in 1883 to affix to parcels, used until 1918.
Postmark A postal marking used for parcel post.
Stamps Adhesives used for the prepayment of parcel postage.
Name of Royal Mail parcel service.
Envelopes Preprinted stationery that could only be bought and posted by Members of
from 16 January 1840 following the abolition of franking of letters by Members from 10 January. This ceased once adhesives were issued on 6 May 1840
A stamp where the perforation is incomplete.
Cover Pictorial covers with a patriotic theme used in wartime to raise morale.
handstamp applied to covers indicating postage has been paid to destination.
& Commerce French and Colonial key type introduced in 1876.
& Navigation French Colonial key type adopted in 1892.
Design feature consisting of solid or outlined circles.
Paper (French) Very thin, hard and rough paper.
Postal defacement applied by pen and ink to a postage stamp.
Stamps & Stationery Stationery intended for use on official correspondence in the USA with a warning printed on the envelope that improper use may incur a penalty.
Black World's first adhesive postage stamp introduced in Great Britain in 1840.
Post A postal service delivering letters within a limited area for a penny.
Red 1d stamps of Great Britain successors to the Penny Black. Percé (French) Pierced Percé en Arc (French) Arc pierced. Percé en Lignes (French) Line pierced. Percé en Lignes de Couleur (French) Line pierced in colour. Percé en Lignes Obliques (French) Pierce in oblique lines. Percé en Losanges (French) Lozenge pierced. Percé en Points (French) Pin Pierced or perforated Percé en Pointes (French) Zig-Zag pierced. Percé en Scie (French) Saw toothed pierced. Percé en Serpentine (French) Pierced in wavy lines. Perçue (French) paid
à Froid Method of striking dies and punches in cold metal.
Stamps which have been perforated with a series of holes arranged to form letters e.g. initials of companies, or other outlines to protect commercial firms against theft of stamps.
A means of making the separation of individual stamps easier by removing small pieces of paper from gutters between the stamps. (q.v Chad) The gauge of the perforation is denoted by the number of holes in a space of 2cms (perf 14 etc).
Gauge An instrument designed to enable the gauge of perforations of stamps. Invented by Dr J.A
Bacon Process The method of producing line engraved plates invented by Jacob Perkins.
Paper An azure safety paper invented by Dr Perkins and used on the 1855-6 and other GB issues.
Mailing The authorised posting of mail without adhesive stamps.
Delivery Stamps Stamps issued to ensure that mail was delivered to the addressee only.
Stamps Stamps with a non postal label attached bearing an image derived from a personal photograph.
Payée à Frontier. Postage prepaid to the frontier of a country .
A bogus stamp.
Agencies Commercial organisations which handle the philatelic sales and publicity of a country's stamps.
Bureau Agency which handles the sale of philatelic items.
Congress of Great Britain Initiated at Manchester in 1909 and comprises of an affiliation of
Societies throughout Great Britain.
Document Document giving details of a stamp with a space for the stamp itself (see Document
Officiel).
Exhibition Stamp show open to the public sponsored by stamps clubs, dealers or the postal authorities,
Handling Labels Labels provided by some postal authorities for collectors to affix to covers to obtain careful handling.
A student of postage stamps.
The study of postage stamps and associated areas.
UPU mail classification for gramophone records, approved 1939.
Stamps overprinted, inked or impregnated with phosphorescent or fluorescent substances for use in electronic letter facing and cancelling machines.
Dots and Bars Patterns of dots or bars produced by phosphorescent or fluorescent substances applied to mail to translate the postcode from an alpha numeric sequence to a medium which can be read by sorting machines.
Graphite Stamps of Great Britain issued in 1959 with graphite lines on back and phosphor lines (q.v) on the front.
Lines Bands of phosphorescent material printed on the face of stamps to activate letter facing and cancelling machines and sort into first and second class.
Method of stamp production where the design is photographed to produce a master negative.
A process of multiplying a design by repeated photographic exposure.
Postcards reproducing postage stamps produced by Royal Mail since 1973.
Postmarks Handstruck marks and machine cancels which include a pictorial element.
Stamps Stamps with a picture design.
Post Messages carried by pigeon, usually in the form of microfilm.
Box and Post-boxes Public post boxes introduced in the 1650's for the receipt of mail.
Narrow lined rectangles forming a type of ornamentation in the pane gutters on a stamp sheet.
(French Percé en points) Type of stamp separation applied by piercing the paper with sharp pointed pins.
in Proportion
Printing from a smooth surface that is neither raised nor recessed.
Flat piece of engraved steel or copper from which stamps are printed.
Flaw Blemish on a stamp caused by damage to the printing plate.
Number Number printed in a sheet margin to identify the plate from which the stamps were printed.
Proof The trial impressions from the printing plate before the actual issue. Usually they are ungummed and printed on card.
Varieties Variations between stamps on any one particular sheet caused by irregularities on the printing plate.
(see under Reconstruction)
Stamps Stamps issued by temporary independent postal authorities in towns and districts while their future nationality is determined.
of a printing plate plugged into the main design.
for postmark (q.v)
Post A system of conveying letters and cards by pneumatic tubes.
Egg Name for certain labels used officially for testing British automatic vending machines in 1936/37.
Small transparent envelope used for containing a stamp.
Alcohol Gum Adhesive substance which is invisible and non curling employed on many stamps since the 1960s.
Timbre (French) Label that contains a box within the design for the regular postage stamp.
Postage.
Block Block showing a variety known to occur on a particular stamp in the sheet.
A service of the British Post Office operated through book shops as a convenient way of sending books through the post.
q.v Pillar Box
Mail Bus
Place for reception of mail for delivery to addressees.
Abroad Post Offices staffed and operated by one country located in another country.
Public highway whose use is authorised by law.
Due Amount to be paid for an non or under franked letter.
Due Labels Labels showing the amount to be paid on un or under franked letters.
Paid Impressions Handstruck marks applied to bulk postings of mail prepaid in cash.
Stamp A label, usually gummed, indicating the amount of money prepaid for postage.
Card Government produced card with a special imprinted stamp which doesn't exist as an adhesive postage stamp.
Concessionary Label Label sold through the NAAFI for use of British servicemen in Egypt.
Fiscal Fiscal or Revenue stamps which have been authorised for postal use.
Forgery A counterfeit stamp prepared to defraud the postal authorities.
Frank term used to denote accountancy labels prepared by the British Vice Consul in Madagascar.
Historian A Student of the operation and development of postal services.
History A study of the development of the postal services.
Mechanisation The study of the development of the mechanised handling of the mail.
Stationery An item of stationery that has been printed specially by a postal authority to show the prepayment of postage.
Surcharge Overprint on stamps used for accounting purposes and were not valid for postage (occurs on Cyprus stamps).
Telegraphs Stamps originally issued for use on telegrams.
Used A stamp which has been used to prepay postage.
Ticket The Postbus services operating in the UK since 1967 use distinctive tickets with the value indicated by means of adhesive stamps (q.v).
A type of postal stationery consisting of small sheets of pasteboard or cardboard which can be sent by post usually at a lower rate that letters.
Stamp Postage stamps specially prepared for prepaying postage on postcards.
A group of numbers or a combination of letters and numbers devised to translate an address into a code which can be used for automatic sorting.
on Board Persons on board ship are entitled to send mail prepaid by means of stamps of the country in which the ship is registered.
Stamps Term used to describe labels, resembling miniature posters, often perforated to advertise tourist attractions, special events and company products, but with no postal validity.
Nickname for the definitive issues of Norway since 1872.
Marks applied in manuscript, handstamp or machine to mail to indicate the place and time of posting. Postmasters' Stamps Issues made by postmasters usually during an emergency to prepay postage on local mail.
Type of Postal Stationery introduced in 1982 by British Post office.
Mauritius The 1d & 2d stamps of Mauritius issued in 1847. the stamps are so called because the are inscribed "Post Office"
A piece of mail posted before the advent of postage stamps.
Stamps issued by the post office with cancellations already applied. They are sold in quantity to business firms.
Pack A philatelic souvenir containing a set of stamps and a description in text.
Mail Mail sent to the Post Office already sorted which attracts a reduced rate of postage.
Cover Covers dating from before the introduction of adhesive postage stamps.
Ticket Adhesive labels sold at hotels and shops in Spain and the Canary Islands for use on tourist mail.
Sheet A full sheet of stamps as it was originally printed.
Booklet A stamp booklet that contains special panes of stamps with descriptive text printed alongside.
Nickname given to the US Presidential series of definitive stamps of 1938
Term for early locally produced stamps whose designs were crudely executed.
Matter Circulars, samples and other forms of commercial paper.
on Both Sides Stamps with complete impressions on both sides of the paper front and back.
Watermark Imitation Watermark adopted as a cheap substitute for security paper during a temporary shortage. Printer's Imprint Printer's name appearing as part of the stamp design or on the sheet selvage. Printer's Waste Badly or partially printed stamps which should have been rejected by the printer's checkers and not released.
Printing process patented by Motley & Miller of England applying photography to letterpress.
Production run of stamps.
Blue & white labels to denote first class and airmail services.
of War Mail Correspondence to or from prisoners of war.
Controls Inscriptions overprinted or on reverse of stamps by organisations to prevent theft.
Perforation Unofficial perforation applied by private individuals or organisations before perforation methods were generally accepted. Also private roulette.
Postmarks Cancellations permitted in some countries for the use of firms or organisations.
Envelope Envelope giving preferential treatment to a charitable organisation.
Postage Stamps Stamps or franks issued to private individuals or organisations as a postal concession on certain mail. Also where, without authority, individuals have produced stamps for events e.g. strikes.
(Switzerland) Inscription on Air Mail Stamps.
(Switzerland) Stamps issued for children's charities.
(Switzerland) Stamps issued for national cultural funds.
Engraving Method of engraving the surface of metal by an acid to produce printing plates.
An impression taken from a die or plate prior to the manufacture of the postage stamp and can be divided into four types die proofs (q.v), engraver's proofs (q.v), plate proofs (q.v), colour proofs (q.v).
Forgeries Stamps forged by British Intelligence during both world wars and smuggled into enemy territory to be used by allied agents to frank propaganda leaflets.
Leaflets Leaflets bearing propaganda aimed at enemy and enemy occupied countries.
Stamps Stamps designed to promote a campaign and get a message across to the public.
Stamps Stamps whose value or purpose has been altered after printing by means of a surcharge or overprint.
Postmarks Postmarks produced by post offices to advertise various places or events.
Timbres de Publicité, Stamps from booklets (q.v) which have advertising labels (q.v) attached.
Perforation A form of cancellation where a hole or pattern of holes is punched across a stamp. PVA, PVAD Abbreviation for Polyvinyl Alcohol (q.v) and Polyvinyl Alcohol Dextrin gums on reverse of stamps.
(Quem Deus Conservet/Whom God Preserve) Often found in manuscript below the named ship added to early ship letters (q.v) as a talisman.
Elizabeth the Second of Great Britain. Quadrillé term used to describe an album leaf printed with a fine network of squares as a guide for the arrangement of stamps.
Paper Paper watermarked with crossed lines forming a pattern of small squares or rectangles.
Lamp An electric lamp incorporating a filament in transparent fused quartz, emitting ultraviolet rays.
Watermark A compound leaf or flower design with four leaflets or petals radiating from the centre.
Enthroned Name for stamps of Victoria 1852 showing a design with Queen Victoria seated on a throne.
Victoria. R Rare
The back side of a coin, typically showing a design or denomination.
The confidential minimum price a seller is willing to accept.
The final selling price achieved at auction.
Stamps)
High quality long lasting paper with a high content of rag content.
Air Services Airmail service operated by the Railway Companies in Great Britain during 1934.
Cancellations Cancellations used to indicate handling on mail vans or travelling post offices and on trains.
Company Stamps Local or semi official stamps issued by railway companies mainly to denote fees payable in respect of parcels and in some cases letters.
Letter & Parcel Stamps Stamps produced by railway companies to prepay a special railway letter fee to speed up the handling of letters between railway stations.
Trials Impressions of the Penny Black produced in a number of different colours during 1840. This was to test various combinations of coloured inks, papers and cancellations.
Cancelling Machine
(French for radius). Used to denote the distance of a place from a central point in European postal tarifs.
Roll of Distinguished Philatelists (q.v)
Digest Coils Multi value strips of stamps were produced by the British Post Office on behalf of
Digest to facilitate reply postage.
Parcels A parcel service operated by the British Post Office similar to Recorded Delivery (q.v).
Printing Process where the design is engraved on the printing plate, the recesses thus formed are filled with ink.
Reconstruction of sheets or blocks of stamps from singles or multiples which vary in some degree throughout the sheet or block.
Delivery A service of Royal Mail where a receipt is obtained from the addressee introduced into
Message Stamps Stamps issued by Argentina in 1939 to prepay the fees on messages recorded on discs for transmission by post.
Die When a die has been extensively retouched (q.v) it is normally termed re-cut.
Message Scheme Used for the exchange of mail between persons living on opposing sides during WW2, operated out of Switzerland.
Stamps Stamps either commemorating the Red Cross or bearing a premium in aid of the Red Cross
Printing plates used for making Penny red stamps of Great Britain in 1841 (q.v Black Plates)
A new printing of a stamp whose design differs in some detail from the original while retaining its principal features.
Stamps printed by presses using continuous reels of paper.
The strengthening of worn parts of the surface of a printing plate.
Duplication of part of a line engraved stamp design due to a first impression having been inadequately erased after stamps have been printed and thus allowing traces of its entry to appear in conjunction with the new impression.
Postcards Picture postcards issued by the various regional postal boards in the UK.
Stamps Postal stamps issued by the British Post Office for use in Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, Guernsey, Jersey and the Isle of Man. Following the postal independence of Guernsey, Jersey and the
Marking Any marking in the sheet margin in the form of lines, dots and arrows, placed as a guide to colour registration.
Envelope Special Envelopes pioneered in GB in 1878 for registered packets and distinguished by crossed blue lines.
Postmarks Special marks applied to registered packets to indicate greater security in transit.
Labels Labels affixed to mail to show that it has been registered. Service now replaced in the
Stamps Special stamps adhesive or postal stationery denoting that the registration fee has been paid.
A stamp whose original gum has been lost and which has been issued with a fresh layer applied.
(German) Imperial Post
A stamp or series of stamps brought back into general use after being withdrawn.
Printing Printing from raised type often referred to as letterpress.
Unsold stamps on hand after an issues has been taken off sale.
Correction of a damaged or faulty printing plate, cylinder, die or perforation pins.
Stamp A stamp which has had a fault or defect hidden in order to increase its possible market value.
Stamp A stamp which has had perforation applied unofficially to an imperforate or damaged margin.
Copy or imitation of the design and colour of a stamp.
Paid Stationery Envelopes etc bearing inscriptions address and license number to enable firms customers of businesses to reply without paying postage.
Postcards A form of postal stationery consisting of two postcards joined together one with the sender's message, the other for the addressee's reply. (Issued in the United Kingdom from 1882 to 1970).
the knocking up of a printing plate from behind for the purpose of raising a dent or of bringing a faulty part of the plate to the necessary height for retouching.
A ribbed paper with a fine ribbing on the surface and not resulting from the watermark.
Impressions from the original plates, blocks or stones, from which stamps were printed, taken after the issue of the stamps to the Post Office has ceased: impressions printed not for use as stamps, but as specimens for sale to collectors.
New arrangement of clichés in a plate.
Paper Paper made transparent by treatment with resin or collodion. Also known as Goldbeater's skin (q.v).
Booklets and Sheetlets Stamps packaged in such a way that they can be conveniently sold in souvenir shops and other places in addition to Post Offices.
A minor correction effected by hand engraving on a plate or cylinder.
Mail Mail which has been returned to the sender for many reasons but mainly because of an incorrect address.
Labels Gummed labels affixed across the tops of envelopes which have previously been used (q.v
Stamp Issues made to pay tax or duty other than postage.
Print Stamps printed in reverse by accident or design.
Watermark A watermark which is a mirror print when viewed from the face of the stamp.
A thin paper in a variety of textures, made from the sliced pith of a Formosan tree and sized with rice water.
Term for a type of numerical obliterator consisting of several concentric circle with or without numerals in the centre.
Gum A gum, adopted by Germany, so broken up as to produce a non curling effect.
Mark A printed mark on a stamp or sheet margin made by a nail or rivet into the printing plate to secure the printing surface to the mount.
Letter Office; Returned Letter Office
Stamp A private stamp or label sold to the public to prepay the charges of having a letter sent by rocket.
(German) Pneumatic mail q.v
Distinguished Philatelists Established in Great Britain in 1921. King George V gave it royal assent and was the first signatory.(q.v R.P.D)
Gum Gum applied to paper by a machine operated roller.
Cancel Cancel applied by rolling a device across the stamp.
Die Cylindrical die used to produce a recessed printing plate in the Perkins Die and Mill process.
Flaws Flaws in stamp designs caused by imperfections occurring in the roller die.
Type Fount of type used by printers and distinguished by its seriffed capitals.
Perforation Experimental perforation gauge 12½ applied to USA 1c stamp of 1919.
Cancellations A hand operated device to speed up the cancellation of stamps.
Perforation Perforation applied by two counter rotating wheels, one with flat ended pins around the circumference and the other bored with holes to receive the pins.
Printing Method of printing using curved printing plates that print on continuous rolls of paper.
Perforation Holes and teeth with rough edges, imperfectly cut or punched.
Form of separation in which slits or holes are made in the paper but none of the paper is actually removed.
Figures in sheet margins indicating the total value of the stamps in a row.
Mail Postage Labels Term used for Frama labels (q.v) used in UK 1984-85.
Reprint Printing of British 1d stamps in September 1865 requested by young members of the Royal
Post Office.
Paper Paper ruled with lines as a guide for writing. Such paper was used for stamps of Mexico and Latvia.
Postmark Undated Postmarks used by rural postmen in Cyprus and Greece.
brown mould infection that disfigures postage stamps in humid climates and other bad storage conditions.
A complete unseparated page of stamps as issued by a postal authority.
The margin or border surrounding a sheet or pane of stamps.
A small decorative sheet containing one or more commemorative stamps.
A sample stamp marked to prevent postal usage.
A book with strips or pockets used to temporarily store stamps.
A coin sealed within a protective graded holder by a certification company.
The impression made when a coin blank is stamped by dies.
The opening amount at which bidding begins.
if conveyed at any point of their journey by vehicles having more than two wheels and for certain tolls such as the Menai Bridge.
Confederation.
World War.
Peace & Commerce.
(Italian) Specimen
Cross Label A stamp sized piece of paper bearing diagonally crossed lines in the form of the cross of St Andrew.
Labels or Stamps Security printer products to show to prospective clients.
Name for a form of type which has no cross stroke, or serif, or thickening at the end of each letter.
Stamps Stamps intended to facilitate the savings of sums of money which are too small to be deposited in the Post Office Savings Bank.
Roulette Also known as "Pérce en Scie" characterised by large cuts made in a diagonal pattern.
Expeditions Stamps overprinted for the use of expeditions of science and exploration.
Local Cancellations Cancellations in the form of the undated name stamps used at minor post offices in Scotland.
Post See Boy Scout Posts.
Printer's type resembling handwriting.
Watermark Watermark consisting of letters in italics.
Bahamas Special postmark applied to mail posted in the bathysphere at the bottom of the sea in
British high value definitives 1913-34.
Labels Gummed or self adhesive labels used by postal authorities to reseal broken packets.
Gummed labels intended to seal envelopes by affixing them across the flap.
Marks Small marks incorporated in a stamp design to identify particular craftsmanship.
Overprint An overprint applied to a stamp to prevent forgery.
Paper Paper which has been treated to prevent defacing marks on stamps being removed.
Issues Stamps produced by the Hamilton Bank Note Company of New York for some Central
Labels and Stamps Labels and stamps with a rubber based adhesive that does not require to be moistened.
Handstamp
Area of unprinted paper surrounding a stamp design.
Stamps Stamps used in connection with private postal services but having official sanction.
American term for stamps bearing a charity premium.
Sorting Machine machine which sorts mail to address in sequence of delivery
Roulette A form of separation in which the cuts are in a wavy line pattern.
Pair An unsevered pair of stamps differing from each other in some way, in value or because one is overprinted the other not.
complete collection of single stamps in an issue.
An additional impression of the whole or part of a stamp design, printed accidentally on the face or back of a stamp.
Machine Perforation Separation applied by a sewing machine resembling either pin rouletting or rough perforation depending on the condition of the needle.
A variety or degree of colour.
Stamps are printed on sheets of paper trimmed to convenient size.
Number A number appearing in the margin of a stamp sheet in order to count and distinguish the sheet individually.
Watermark Watermark device appearing only once in the printed sheet also known as "All over Watermark" (q.v).
A sheet of stamps containing a much smaller number of stamps than the normal sheet distinguished from Miniature Sheet q.v.
Term used when a colour is applied out of register to the stamp design during printing.
Special marks often including the name of the ship used to cancel mail posted on board.
A letter carried by a private vessel instead of a packet letter (q.v). The Post Office agreed to pay the Masters of Private Ships a fee which was an inducement to the efficient handling of letters they carried. This was in addition to the ordinary postage charged and all was paid for by the recipient. A special make was applied to the mail at the port of arrival.(q.v Captain's Gratuity)
Company Stamps Stamps issued by shipping companies to prepay postage on mail carried by their vessels.
Set A set of stamps complete to a specified value only.
Stereotypes of a particular stamp image have often varied in size owing to the shrinkage of the plaster mould from which the stereos were made.
Watermark Watermark device at right angles to the stamp design.
Post Mail services from town under siege in wartime. Signé Term for a stamp with an expert's signature on the back to prove that it is genuine.
Printing A printing process where the ink is forced through a fine screen onto the paper surface of the stamp below.
Paper Paper with threads of silk in its composition q.v Dickinson Paper.
Paper Paper with a slight bluish grey tinge and showing threads of different colours on the surface.
Line Perforation Perforation applied to a sheet one row at a time from a single row of pins.
Fund Stamps French stamps with a surcharge for the reduction of the national debt.
Handstamp A circular datestamp with the name of the post office around its edge usually an exhibition or some other special event. (q.v Experimental Postmarks)
A stamp with a higher value than charged or listed in a catalogue.
Postmark Postmarks bearing a slogan either as a form of advertising or giving instructions to the public.
Print Also known as smudged print caused by paper slip at the point of contact with the printing plate.
Stamps
Sheets Sheet of postage stamps issued se-tenant with labels on which an individuals picture is printed thereon.
Name given by Royal Mail to stamps attached to a label on which can be printed a photograph supplied by the customers.
Mail Modern term for conventional mail as opposed to Emails.
Off The removal of surplus paper from postage stamps by immersion in water. Soldiers' Letters Letters sent from soldiers on active service, often sent free or at a reduced postal rate. Soldiers' Stamps Stamps issued by many countries to denote the exemption of serviceman's mail from postage.
House London Headquarters of the Board of the Inland Revenue which was responsible for British stamp production between 1840 and 1930.
Packs Packs produced by Royal Mail in conjunction with selected special stamp issues, which in addition to containing stamps. feature an illustrated book with background information.
Sheet Small sheets of philatelic interest without postal validity.
(La Semeuse) Longest lived French stamp design first issued in 1903
Stamps Stamps commemorating space events.
Filler A stamp in poor condition which fills a space in a collection until a better copy is found.
The space between the exterior curves of an arch and an enclosing right angle.
Delivery Stamps Labels denoting special handling of mail to speed up delivery.
Event Postmarks Postmarks used at Exhibitions and other special occasions for which a temporary post office is provided.
Fee Stamps Stamps denoting the fees payable in respect of special handling of mail.
Flight Stamps Stamps issued for use on mail carried on special flights.
Handstamp
Handstamp Centre
An advanced and experienced collector who has made a study of one particular area of philately.
Under the rules of the UPU all issues of stamps issued by its members must be circulated through its offices to other member countries. Such stamps are usually overprinted or perfined "Specimen" (2) Sample stamps usually overprinted "Specimen" distributed free via the philatelic press or to the trade. Also overprinted officially by postal administrations to prevent re-use.
Issues Issues of stamps unnecessary for postal requirements.
Single Position Letter Sorting Machine or Elsie
Stamps Fragments of stamps used postally to represent an appropriate portion of their original value q.v
Booklets Booklets sponsored by commercial firms etc.
Cancellations Experimental duplex handstamp introduced in England in 1854.
Watermark Name of the watermark of a flower in machine made paper used for British postage stamps between 1867 and 1880.
Circle The first type of combined date and obliterator of stamps used in England & Wales between 1879 and 1914.
Sorting Office
A device for stamping to make a mark on paper. Postage stamps are more correctly referred to as adhesive Postage Stamps or just Adhesives (q.v)
Card Laminated Card similar to a credit card bearing peelable self adhesive stamps. used in North
Collecting A hobby devoted to collecting and study of philatelic material.
Currency Unused postage stamps or postage stamp design on card used as coins.
Duty An inscription usually found on fiscal stamps.
Packet Exchange Packet used in Philatelic Societies circulated among members to enable them to obtain stamps.
Paper Paper bearing an impressed fiscal stamp.
Cover A cover which has passed through the post since the advent of adhesive stamps which does not bear an adhesive or imprinted stamp.
Helvetia 1882-1907 definitive designs of Switzerland.
Companies Stamps issued by Steamship Companies to prepay postage on letters carried by their mail steamers between certain ports.
Repeat Machine An apparatus by means of which an image on glass is projected as many times as required on to a large glass photographic plate, stepped at exact intervals and repeated along successive rows with photographic and mathematical precision.
A solid metallic plate for printing cast from a mould of movable type.
Watermark A watermark caused by the stitches in the wire or cloth web upon which the paper is made.
Edge The imperforate side of a normally perforated stamp.
Posts Emergency posts set up to maintain communications during strikes.
Three or more stamps joined in a single row.
Collectors name for Swiss stamps of 1854-62.
Posts Wartime postal services which carried mail by submarine.
Collecting The collecting of stamps according to designs appearing on them. (q.v Thematic Collecting)
Transfer In the lithographic process if a transfer to a stone is faulty or wrongly placed on the original transfer can be erased and a fresh transfer laid down on the stone in its place.
Oxydisation of stamps.
Delivery Stamps Stamps produced for use on mail intended for delivery on Sundays and Public Holidays.
Overprint (q.v) which alters or confirms the value on a stamp.
Coloured Paper Paper with colour printed all over its surface, as opposed to that which has been dyed throughout its manufacture.
Printing Used of printing by the letterpress process.
Perforation A coarse perforation unofficially applied to early French stamps.
An express airmail service of Royal Mail.
Views The first stamp issue of New South Wales 1850
Perforation Uneven perforation where the spaces between the perforation holes are uneven because some pins have been removed.
from such sheets vary in size from dry printings owing to shrinkage on drying.
A printing process where raised surfaces transfer ink onto paper.
Special tweezers used to handle stamps without damaging them.
A privately issued coin-like object often used for trade or advertising.
A live bid placed remotely through an auction house representative.
An online auction running for a fixed period before closing automatically.
of Nanking in 1842.
were printed in the sheet margins of GB photogravure stamps between 1934 and 1947.
included on the printing plates for technical reasons to enable better prints to be made.
are transferred to produce a glass plate.
with a special descriptive inscription attached to a stamp but separated by a row of perforation holes.
French Colonial key type.
Stamps Stamps overprinted with phosphor bands to assist sorting of mail.
Douce (French) Term used for line engraving printing.
Cancellation A numeral obliterator consisting of numerals in concentric circles.
tracking or sotting of overseas mail
French for "Charge Paid"
A service of Royal Mail introduced in 1984 to expedite mail of the Inland Revenue Offices.
Cancel Special obliterations or holes denoting use on a telegraph form.
Stamps Stamps with the purpose of the prepayment of telegraph charges.
Stamps Stamps issued to pay charges for telephone calls.
Labels Dummy stamps used for testing vending machines. Tête-bêche Pair of stamps one of which has been printed upside down in relation to the other.
Collecting Stamp collecting according to subject or theme.
A printing technique for obtaining a pattern in relief by heating a resinous compound adhering to printing ink.
(of Paper) The paper on which stamps are printed varies in thickness (see Micron).
A stamp which has lost its original thickness.
"married" to a cover by the cancellation.
(French) Stamp
Mail Mail conveyed in the sea in tin cans or bottles.
Cancel Cancellation in the shape of a tombstone.
Paper Paper which is 'off white' especially with a brownish or buff tinge.
Mark to explain reason for delay to mail, which has been posted too late to connect with the last despatch on that day.
Labels Special designation used by the British Post Office for postage due stamps, but also used where Customs and handling fees were to be collected. The use of these labels ceased in Great Britain on 28
Collecting Term used in USA for Thematic Collecting.
des objects plats – the carriage of flat objects
The triple sign manual signature or paraph (q.v) of the former Sultan of Turkey
Publicity Stamps Stamps showing places of interest in the issuing country.
Travelling Post Office
Labels Labels with serial numbers and barcodes which enable details of any parcel or letters sent, for example, in the United Kingdom by the Royal Mail Special Delivery and Signed For services to be traced subsequent to posting.
Lights Colour dots printed in the sheet margin denoting each colour printed on a stamp.
In stamp production by the Perkins die and mill process designs are transferred from an intaglio engraved die to a roller die and from this to the printing plate.
Roller In intaglio the steel roller which transfers the image from the master die to the plate using the "rocking in" technique.
Postmark A postmark applied to a cover at some point in its transmission between posting and delivery. Translator
A machine for sorting incoming mail for street delivery installed and used in the United Kingdom for mail addresses to the Brighton area 1935-1968..
Subject A rare error in which a subject or image for one printing plate is inserted by mistake into another.
Post Office (T.P.O) Mobile Post Office usually on a train but sometimes in a bus or van. Usually have special cancellations.
Competition In 1839 the British Treasury offered prizes of £200 and £100 for the best suggestions "as to the manner in which the projected new postage stamp might best be brought into use" Over 2,500 entries were received and four prizes of £100 were awarded, but none of the suggestions were put into use.
Essay A proposed stamp design submitted in 1839 to the competition organised by the British Treasury.
Roulette An experimental form of separation of line engraved postage stamps of Great Britain showing shallow waved edges with internal cuts applied by a revolving wheel with an independent circumference.
Ports Chinese seaports opened to European trade by the Treaty of Nanking in 1842.
Impressions from a die, punch, plate, stone or other printing surface to test that the design and or colour is correct.
Three sided stamps.
Term denoting adhesive stamps whose perforations have been clipped owing to faulty guillotining of booklet panes or coils.
Traffic Recording Installations in Parcel Office Systems
Group of three different stamps printed side by side in the sheet.
Rose Watermark Watermark similar to an heraldic Tudor Rose.
Small metal two pronged instrument used by collectors to pick up stamps without using their finger tips.
Post A postal service operating at two distinct levels and offering two separate tariffs.
small piece of wood or metal having a character at the end used in movable printing.
Stamps Stamps printed from an arrangement of printer's type assembled to make a design.
Stamps Stamps which have been produced wholly or partly by typewriting.
Cancellation Cancellation applied to stamps by letterpress printing.
A stamp that has been postally used and usually bears a cancellation mark.
A coin that has never been used in general circulation and retains sharp detail.
An auction lot that failed to reach its reserve price.
applied on back of correspondence.
Regional Stamps).
1961 but now known as "Recorded (Signed for)". For an additional fee items are computer tracked and scanned at the item's final destination.
Kingdom by "Royal Mail Special Delivery" with delivery guaranteed by either 9.00am or 12 noon, the following day.
Mail Mail carried by German Submarines during both world wars.
Violet Lamp q.v Quartz Lamp
Overprint applied at Lisbon to stamps distributed by the UPU for Portuguese Colonies
Die Die used to produce many British fiscal and revenue stamps.
Known to exist but not listed in any catalogue
Stamps Stamps which do not show a face value.
An underprint refers to inscriptions on the back of a stamp.
Back Postcard without the dividing line to separate the message section from the address.
Intellectuals Stamps Stamps issued by France between 1935 and 1940 with a premium in aid of the unemployed.
Stamps Postage stamps issued without gum on the back.
Stamps without any trace of a hinge mark.
Fourpenny Post From 5 December 1839 to 9 January 1840 letters posted in GB were charged a uniform rate of 4d instead of postage calculated by distance.
Penny Post Started in GB on 10 January 1840 with a basic rate of 1d per half ounce regardless of distance carried, discontinued in 1918.
Postage A postal system whereby mail is conveyed at a flat rate irrespective of distance or any other factor apart from weight.
Stamps Stamps which have been prepared for issue but for some reason have not been issued for postal use.
Colours Colours adopted by members of the UPU for stamps prepaying three classes of postal service: green basic foreign printed matter, red internal postcards, blue internal single rate letters. The use of these colours was ignored by many countries and abandoned by the UPU in 1953
Postal Union (U.P.U.) International organisation with its headquarters in Berne which is responsible for co-ordinating international mail.
A stamp which does not appear in a stamp catalogue.
Mint Stamps in perfect condition as issued from the Post office.
stamps Stamps issued by bus, airline and shipping companies to prepay charges on their parcels and packets.
Letter Stamps q.v Postage Due
Stamp Stamp with no postal cancellation but has no gum.
Postal Union (q.v)
Stamp used outside its country of origin.
Postage stamps inscribed postage & revenue used for the payment of revenue charges.
Cover Stamps postmarked and preserved on the original cover.
Piece A stamp retained on a portion of the original cover.
Stamp that has been used postally and bears at least part of a postmark US Postmasters' Provisionals Issued in a number of US cities between 1845 when uniform postal rates were established by Congress and 1847 when US postage stamps were first issued.
An ultraviolet lamp used to detect postmarks which have been removed from stamps
A minor variation such as color, perforation or printing differences.
A form of Airgraph (q.v) used by the US Forces during WW2.
Tablet The panel on a stamp carrying the declared monetary value.
Any deviation from the normal e.g. errors of colour, design, perforation and watermark.
Lines Bars of varnish applied across the face of stamps.
coding system
Machine Booklet Booklet of stamps prepared to be sold by a vending machine.
Machine Stamps Stamps produced for use in stamp vending machines.
Pair Imperforate Between A pair of stamps that is fully perforated at the top, sides and bottom but has no perforation between the two.
Stamps Stamps commemorating victory after major wars.
Term used to describe the central feature of a stamp design: also applied to a pictorial advertising label of no postal validity.
Regina - Queen Victoria
(Victoria Regina Imperatrix) Overprint applied from 1900 to stamps issued in Orange free State under
A design embedded into stamp paper to help prevent counterfeiting.
Service offered by Royal Mail where bulk posting are sorted by the sender into the Postman's walks .
Slang for stamps that have little or no value.
Advanced Network Distribution
List Collectors list of wanted stamps that are sent to Dealers.
Stamps produced in wartime either for propaganda or for use in conquered territories or to raise funds for the prosecution of a war.
Stamps Stamps issued to raise money in wartime.
Paper A thick soft paper supplied by Waterlow & Sons.
A design, device or pattern usually of wire or metal called Bits (q.v) impressed into paper during manufacture. The purpose is largely for protection against duplication of the paper. The watermarks are numerous in size and design and can be detected by placing in a special watermark detector. (q.v Dandy Roll)
Bits The designs in metal attached to the frame or dandy roll (q.v) for producing watermarks in the paper.
Detector Device to aid the identification of watermarks.
Error Stamps may be found with part or all of the watermark missing or the incorrect watermark for that issue.
Inverted When a sheet of paper has been fed through the press the right side to the plate, but upside down. It is inverted in relation to the design on the face.
Reversed Term used when a sheet of paper has been fed through the press the wrong side to the printing surface.
Sideways The printing of stamps for sale in rolls needs a different arrangement of the printing materials in relation to the paper with the result that the stamps are printed sideways to the paper and the watermark reads vertically instead of horizontally across the stamps.
Letters collected by a postman and delivered by him on his round without necessarily going through a Post Office.
& Pay machine
Printing on paper that has been moistened to make it more resilient and receptive to printer's ink.
Backs Collector's term for certain British Commonwealth stamps printed on paper coloured yellow or green on the printing surface but left uncoloured on the other side.
Collectors term for the British definitive series of 1952-67 on account of the Queen's portrait by
Paper A type of security paper with a surface tinted grey blue pattern to prevent re-use and forgery.
Booklet An early form of retail booklet introduced by Royal Mail in 1987 with the cover having a small window on the upper right side through which the stamps could be seen.
Very wide margin found on stamps printed in pane formation and perforated with only one central vertical line in the inter pane gutters.
Stamp printed directly from an engraving on wood.
Stone term applied by printers to denote the completed lithographic stone from which the sheets of stamps are printed.
q.v Worn Plate
A printing plate which through constant usage is showing extensive signs of wear,
Paper having in its texture the plain mesh of a fine wire gauze sieve or mould.
Any sheet of paper enclosing a letter or newspaper.
Cover An item of mail salvaged from a shipwreck. q.v Crash Mail
List kept at every British Post Office (1886-1915) on which was entered the details of all parcels which were carried by rail, in order that payment may be made to the Railway Company.
Stamps Stamps produced by a photocopying machine.
The art of engraving on wood.
Key Type Designs used for stamps of the German Colonies between 1900 and 1914.
A book or pack issued by various countries which contain all the commemorative and special issue stamps made in the country during the designated year with background information.
(1905-6) and USA (1906-12).
Chalon Head (1858-62). (q.v Coil Join, Joined Paper)
Posts The name given to the services organised by the zemstvos, units of local Government in rural Russia.
Post Airmail services operated in connection with the flights of German Airships.
The rarest of a series of different embossing security devices used in USA between 1867 and 1870.
Roulette Form of separation which produces sharp pointed projections at the edges of stamps.
Printing from Zinc Plates.
Postcode used in USA the name derived from Zone Improvement Plan.