Glossary of Stamp Collecting Terms

Glossary of Stamp Collecting Terms

American Air Mail Catalog.

American Air Mail Society.

American Association of Philatelic Exhibitors.

American Expeditionary Forces (WWI term).

American First Day Cover Society.

American Philatelist, publication of the American Philatelic Society.

Army Post Office used by U.S. military personnel stationed abroad.

Association of Stamp Catalogue Publishers.

American Stamp Dealers Association.

American Topical Association.

Air Transport Label Catalog.

Refers to stamps produced by De La Rue for Great Britain, 1862-80, from plates that were not put into production.

Acknowledgement of Receipt stamp

A stamp issued to pay the fee for post office notification that a mail piece was delivered.

accessories

Refers to items used by most stamp collectors such as albums, catalogs, hinges, magnifiers, mounts, perforation gauges, tongs, etc.

accumulation

A large collection of stamps that has not been arranged in any particular order.

Refers to paper having a high enough acidic level to eventually affect stamps and covers attached to the page.

Usually refers to the sticky substance that is used to fix a stamp to an envelop. It may be either pressure-sensitive or activated by water.

A nickname for three British Commonwealth definitive series of stamps which feature King George V of Great Britain in naval uniform.

advertisement pane

A booklet or sheet of stamps with one or more stamp spaces used for a commercial ad.

A postage-paid airletter sheet with gummed flaps that is written on and then folded to form an envelope.

aerophilately

Branch of collecting that deals with airmail stamps and covers and their usage.

An organization authorized to publicize or sell new issues of stamps on behalf of a stamp-issuing entity.

See etiquettes.

The carriage of mail by air. The first regular airmail service began in 1870 in Paris when mail was delivered by hot air balloons.

airmail border

Red and blue markings on border cover indicating airmail service.

A rare error in stamp production where an uninked impression is made by a printing plate.

A book designed to hold stamps or covers.

album weeds

Early series of books on forged stamps by Rev. R. Brisco Earee.

Attempt to change a stamp's identity by adding or removing a design or perforation or by changing the characteristics of the paper.

aniline ink

Water-soluble ink with a dye base that runs when wet.

French word for "cancelled."

Priced selections of stamps or covers sent to collectors by mail. The collector keeps the items he chooses and the remaining material (along with a payment) is returned to the approval dealer.

Arrowlike markings used as guides for cutting sheets of stamps.

Stamp bearing coat of arms or heraldic devices.

A term included in transactions to indicate that an item or lot is sold without guarantee or return privilege, usually used for stamps that are damaged or suspect.

auction abbreviations

Terms used in auctions: box with X = cover, circle with dot = used; four small squares = block; square = piece or part of cover; star = mint.

authentication mark

A marking, such as initials, placed on the reverse of a stamp examined and certified to be genuine by an expert. Such markings do not detract from the value of the stamps when they represent the endorsement of recognized authorities.

average (AVG)

Average condition for a stamp; refers to the lowest collectible grade.

Bureau of Engraving and Printing, Washington, DC, where all U.S. currency and almost all U.S. postage stamps have been produced since 1894.

British post office.

back of the book (BOB)

Refers to information appearing in the back of specialized stamp catalogs.

Various information printed on the reverse of a stamp.

Postmark applied to back of incoming mail to show date and time of receipt at the receiving post office.

balloon mail

Mail carried by balloon in Paris during the War of 1870. Such mail was called "balloon monte."

balloon monte

See balloon mail.

bank mixture

Assorted stamps collected from the incoming mail of financial institutions.

Nickname of the South African definitive series of 1942-43.

Woven or laid paper with watermarklike lines added as a guide for handwriting.

Printed in two colors.

Stamps inscribed in two languages (such as Canadian).

bipartite stamps

Stamps printed in two parts with one part meant to be used as postage and the other as a receipt of mailing.

A stamp cut or perforated into two parts, each half representing half the face value of the original stamp.

Bishop mark

The earliest postmark, introduced by Henry Bishop in England circa 1661.

The nickname of the United States 2 cent black Andrew Jackson stamp.

Use of a chemical agent to lighten or remove a discoloration or foreign substance from a stamp.

Refers either to ink that runs when wet or to print that overlaps onto the margin or next attached stamp.

blind perforation

Perforation holes that have been lightly impressed into the stamps, leaving the paper intact.

A unit of four or more uncut stamps (at least two stamps wide and two stamps high).

Board of Governors

Supervising body of the U.S. Postal Service that elects the postmaster general.

boardwalk margins

Stamps with wide margins; also called jumbo stamps.

Fake labels created for sale to collectors, such as "stamps" for imaginary countries.

One or more small blocks (known as booklet panes) attached between thin card covers.

A meeting of stamp collectors and/or dealers, where stamps and covers are sold or exchanged.

A design of intricate lines used in printing to prevent counterfeiting or reuse of a stamp.

What a dealer is willing to pay for stamps or other collectibles.

buyer's premium

Auction term for percentage charged to buyer.

Cut cancel; corner card; or Crown Colonies.

Collectors Club of Chicago.

Collectors Club of New York.

Circular Date Stamp or postmark.

Citizens Stamp Advisory Committee.

Canadian Stamp Dealers Association.

A stamped or printed impression on an envelope which describes the event for which the envelope was mailed such as first days of issue, exhibitions or aviation or naval events, etc.

cachet maker

Any person who designs and produces cachet.

Defacing a stamp to prevent its reuse.

cancel to order (CTO)

Stamps cancelled by postal authorities without having been used for postage.

cancellation

capped numerals

Caplike flaws on the "2" on the U.S. 2 cent Washington issue of 1890-1893.

All inscriptions featured on a stamp.

Charity stamps.

carrier stamps

Stamps used for delivery of mail by private carrier from a post office to the addressee in the early days. When the postal service was first organized, letters were carried from post office to post office since there was no delivery to addressee.

catalog number

Number assigned by a catalog publisher to each individual stamp of a country.

catalog value

Stamp values established by reputable catalogs, used as pricing guides.

censored mail

A cover with a hand-stamp or label indicating that the contents have been opened and censored.

Location of the stamp design on the piece of paper it is printed on. If it is exactly in the center, it is called a "perfectly centered stamp."

center line block

A block of stamps from actual center of a sheet of stamps. On early U.S. issues, the center block is considered the most valuable block on a sheet of stamps.

ceremony program

Card or folder detailing program at first day or stamp unveiling ceremony.

certificate

If issued by acknowledged experts, a stamp's evidence of authenticity and condition.

chalky paper

Stamp paper which has a coating of chalk or clay on the surface.

Champion of Champions

An annual competition of grand award winners from APS national stamp shows.

An ink color change typically caused by exposure to light, fumes or heat.

charity labels

Nonpostal stamp facsimiles used by charities as a fund-raiser.

Japanese characters overprinted on stamps of territories occupied by Japanese troops during WWII.

Christmas Seals

See charity labels.

Christmas stamps

Postage stamps issued for use on mail during Christmas season.

circuit book

Book with stamps or covers offered for sale.

Citizens Stamp Advisory Committee (CSAC)

Persons appointed by the U.S. Postmaster General to review suggestions for stamp subjects.

A stamp that is highly desirable because of its beauty, rarity or age.

Removal of foreign substance from a stamp.

The final result of the process of applying a design into metal.

click stamp

Postage imprint produced by Pitney Bowes machines.

club covers

Covers produced by stamp clubs.

coarse perforation

Large holes, widely and irregularly spaced.

coated paper

Paper with a slick, hard surface.

coil line pair

Pair of stamps showing a colored line caused by a gap where the curved printing plate is joined.

Stamps produced in rolls of 100-500 stamps for use in various postal machines.

collage cachet

A cohesive cachet made by gluing various items together.

collateral material

Background information that accompanies a stamp display.

college stamps

Stamps issued by certain colleges for intercollegiate messenger services.

collodian stains

Paper stains caused by collodian, a chemical used for rejoining perforations.

A variable that may cause stamps technically having the same color to look different.

colored cancellation

A cancel mark in any color but black.

color error

A stamp that is missing a color or which has been printed with the wrong color.

color shift

Misalignment of colors within a multicolored issue.

A single-stamp width multiple of stamps.

combination cover

An envelope or card affixed with one or more stamps of the same theme.

commemorative stamps (comm)

Stamps issued to honor some person, anniversary or historical event.

commercial cover

Refers to a nonphilatelic cover.

composite proof

A printer's proof showing two or more different designs.

composite sheet

Stamp sheets consisting of different values, types or designs.

compound perforations

When there are two different sizes of perforations.

computer-generated postage

The use of Internet connections and laser printers to print postage.

computer vended

Value of the stamp printed by a computer as the stamp is issued.

The quality of a stamp regarding color, centering, cancellation, and gum, if mint, all go into making up the term "condition." Typical condition descriptions are Superb, Very Fine, Fine, Good, Average, or Poor.

contingency stamp

Stamp printed at time of a rate change when current issues may not meet postal needs.

control marks

Marks placed on stamp or in margin by postal authorities for accounting purposes.

Standard inscription placed in the sheet margin to protect design.

cordial stamps

Tax stamps used on bottles or cases of cordials.

cork cancels

Cancelers made from corks.

corner blocks

A block of stamps taken out of the corner of a sheet or pane.

corner card

Name and address of the envelope user, usually placed in the upper left hand corner.

correos/correios

Respectively, Spanish and Portuguese for posts.

correspondence art

Labels designed to simulate stamps.

cotton fiber

A strong, stable fiber suitable for archival paper use.

A postally used envelope or one that has been cancelled as a souvenir.

cracked plate

Stamp showing evidence that the plate from which it was printed was cracked.

crash cover

A cover saved from the wreck of a plane, train or other vehicle with a postal marking explaining the damaged condition.

A fold mark remaining on a postal piece.

Postal items that are presently available at the post office.

Embossed stamps from postal stationery that are cut out.

Imperforate stamps cut from postal stationery with the corners of the original paper left intact.

Computer vended postage.

damaged mail

Mail damaged in transit that may have received a special marking applied by the postal administration.

A wire roller used to imprint watermarks onto paper pulp.

A U.S. precancelled stamp that includes a date in the precancellation.

dated corners

French area stamps which have a date printed in the margin.

Double circular date stamp.

A famous British stamp printing firm.

deacidification

A chemical process to neutralize the acid content of paper.

dead country

A country that no longer issues stamps.

dead letter

Undeliverable mail.

dead letter office (DLO)

Area of post office operation (branch) where undeliverable mail is stored.

A device, sold by the USPS, for finding hidden messages as part of the design on recent U.S. stamps.

defective stamp

A stamp with one or more major faults such as a piece of the stamp is missing.

Stamp issued in a large indefinite quantity and for an indefinite period and which usually does not feature a specific time-dated event.

Refers to hobby of collecting picture postcards.

demonetized

Stamps that, by government proclamation, are no longer valid for postage.

denomination

A stamp's face value.

The printed portion of a stamp, as opposed to the surrounding, blank margin.

The original engraving of a stamp design, usually recess-engraved in reverse on a small flat piece of soft steel.

A form of separation usually used on self-adhesive stamps.

directory markings

Postal indication of failed delivery attempt, stating the reason for failure.

double transfer

A stamp printed in error with more than a single design imprint.

dumb cancellation

A postmark without a date or place of cancellation.

dummy stamp

Officially produced imitation stamp used for training or testing purposes.

duplex cancel

A two-part postal marking consisting of a canceler and a postmark. The canceler voids the stamp so it cannot be reused.

An additional copy of a stamp that one already has in a collection.

earliest known use (EKU)

The cover or piece that documents the earliest date on which a stamp or postal stationery item is known to be used.

early impression

A stamp printed during the beginning run of a press that usually has a very sharp image.

Errors, Freaks and Oddities.

The process of giving relief to paper by pressing it with a die.

encased postage stamp

A stamp inserted into a small, transparent, coin-size case originally used as legal coins during coin shortages.

An intact piece of postal stationery, in contrast to a cutout of the imprinted stamp.

A major mistake in the production of a stamp or postal stationery item such as imperforates, missing or incorrect colors, and design image errors.

The artwork of a proposed design for a stamp.

A gummed label applied to an envelope to designate a specific mail service.

examiner's mark

A mark indicating examination by censors.

expertization

The examination of a stamp or cover by an acknowledged expert to determine if it is genuine.

A stamp booklet that has been separated into its various components, usually for purposes of display.

Auction term for "Fine" quality.

The front of a stamp; the side bearing the design.

The value of a stamp as inscribed on its face.

An acknowledged reproduction of a genuine stamp or cover.

A stamp, cover or cancel that has been altered or concocted to appeal to a collector.

fancy cancel

Any pictorial or unusual obliterating postmark.

fantail margin

Missing marginal perforations from edge of stamp to the end of the sheet.

fast colors

Fade-resistant inks.

Field Post Office (FPO)

A military post office operating in the field, either on land or at sea.

A new discovery, typically of unknown stamps or covers.

first-day cover (FDC)

A cover bearing a stamp that includes a cancellation showing the date of its official first day of issue.

first day of issue (FDI)

The day on which a stamp is first placed on sale.

A revenue stamp or similar label use to show proof that a tax has been paid.

A defect in a plate that appears as an identifiable variety in the stamp design.

Fleet Post Office

See Field Post Office (FPO).

Accidental fold made during stamp production.

1. A stamp or postal stationery item used at a location before regular stamps are available (issued).

2. Describes an earlier stamp that had an influence on the design or purpose of its successor.

A completely fraudulent reproduction of a postage stamp meant either to defraud postal authorities or collectors.

Tan or brown color appearing on stamps or covers.

Another name used for an automatic stamp, coming from the Swiss company that produced such stamps.

The outer portion of a stamp design, often consisting of a line or a group of panels.

An indication on a cover that postage is prepaid (partially or wholly) or that the letter is to be carried free of postage.

A design irregularity such as a color shift, streak, smear or double print.

The front of a cover with most or all of the back and side panels torn away or removed.

fugitive inks

Printing inks used to produce stamps that easily fade or dissolve. Such inks discourage forgery or stamp re-use.

Auction term, "good" condition.

Gum disturbance.

general collection

A collection of the entire world, not of a particular country or topic.

general issue

Stamps issued for ordinary postal use.

ghost tagging

The appearance of a faint image impression accompanying the normal inked impression.

A thin, semitransparent paper that is moderately resistant to exposure and is used for temporary stamp storage.

goldbeater's skin

A thin, tough, translucent paper.

General Post Office.

granite paper

Paper containing small colored fibers that are used to deter forgery.

A judgment of a stamp's level or range of imperfections.

A pattern of parallel lines (or dots at the points where lines would cross) forming a grid.

guillotine perforation

Single cutline from a machine resembling a guillotine.

The selvage separating panes on a sheet of stamps. The gutter is usually discarded during processing.

guttersnipe

A miscut of the pane leaving the entire gutter and occasionally a portion of the adjoining stamp.

Fine scratches from a printing plate.

handmade cover

Folding a sheet of paper to create an envelope.

Cancellation or overprint applied manually to a cover or stamp.

Close, fine lines for shading a stamp design.

Highway Post Office (HPO)

Portable mail-sorting equipment for mail in transit on highways.

Piece of glassine or parchment paper used for mounting stamps on album pages.

historical cover

Postmarked and cacheted for a historical event.

A postmark's circular part that includes place, date, zip code, etc.

Means that a later stamp issue has the same characteristics as a previous issue.

illustrated covers

A cachet that has words and an illustration printed on it.

imperforate

An absence of perforations or rouletting between a pane's individual stamps.

Any printing that is embossed or stamped.

The first sheets of stamps produced from an approved plate.

imprint block

A block from part of a sheet where the printer's name or imprint appears on the margin.

Substances included while making paper used in stamp production.

india paper

A thin, tough opaque printing paper typically used for striking die proofs.

The imprint made by a postage meter or found on postal stationery.

inland mail stamps

Stamps intended specifically for domestic use.

inscription

Any letters, words and numbers appearing in a stamp's design.

Italian for "in recess." The stamp's image is produced by the recessed portion of a printing plate.

interleaves

Tissue used between stamp album pages to prevent stamp contact.

Refers to any part of a design that is inverted in relation to the remaining design.

Junior Philatelists of America.

Another term for offset printing of stamps.

joint issue

When a similar stamp design is issued by more than one country on the same day.

A line formed by ink that accumulates between two printing plates.

journal stamps

Stamps used specifically for prepaying postage on journals, newspapers, magazines, etc.

Stamp issues that feature a special (usually 25- year increment) anniversaries.

Ghetto stamps issued for the use of Jews interned in concentration camps.

jumbo stamps

See boardwalk margins.

Judges at a stamp show.

A basic stamp design used for the issues of two or more postal authorities, which include captions of respective countries, denominations, etc.

Any obliterating postmark that is used to cancel a stamp.

killer bars

Horizontal lines used for stamp cancellations.

A bulk assortment of cancelled stamps that are mounted on envelope corner paper. The assortments are usually sold by the kilogram.

Any stamplike adhesive that is neither a postage stamps nor a revenue stamp.

last day cancellation

Refers either to the last day of a postmark's use or the cancel made on the last day of a post office's operation.

leader strip

The unprinted beginning of a coil strip.

letterpress

Prints made directly from an inked plate having a raised surface.

Auction term for "lightly hinged," to denote slight disturbance of gum on back of stamp.

A block of stamps with either a horizontal or vertical printed guide line running between the rows (and columns) of stamps.

A pair of coil stamps with a printed line between them.

Refers to the coated paper backing that accompanies self-adhesive stamps.

Self-adhesive coil stamps that dispenses like tape rolls.

Latest known use.

Stamps produced by either public or private sources and are only valid within a limited area.

Mail Early block

U.S. marking block with the selvage bearing the inscription "Mail Early."

makeshift booklets

U.S. stamp booklets packaged in cardboard covers and used in vending machines.

Term describing covers or stamps with handwritten postal markings.

Refers to hobby of collecting postmarks.

The unprinted border area around the stamp design or the stamp sheet.

maximaphily

Refers to hobby of collecting maximum cards.

maximum card

A picture postcard that includes a stamp with a cancellation mark, ideally appearing together in harmony.

Auction term for minimum bid.

The device that creates meter stamps.

microprinting

Extremely small captions added as a security measure to the designs of certain U.S. stamps.

miniature sheet

A smaller-than-normal pane of stamps.

A stamp that is in perfect condition; as if it were just printed.

mirror image

An offset negative or reverse impression.

mission mixture

The lowest grade of stamp mixture containing unsorted but primarily common stamps on paper, as purchased from missions or other institutions.

mixed postage

A cover containing stamps from two or more stamp-issuing entities.

A large group of stamps that generally containing duplicates.

Mobile Post Office (MPO)

Portable mail-handling equipment and personnel operating from any viable form of transportation.

mourning cover

A black border surrounds the cover.

mourning stamp

A stamp issued to mark the death of a president or other VIP.

Clear acetate holders with adhesive, used for mounting stamps or covers to album or exhibit pages.

Stands for "mint unhinged."

An intact unit of at least two, but less than a full pane of stamps.

native paper

Crude, locally produced, handmade paper.

never hinged (NH)

A stamp without hinge marks.

new issue service

Refers to a service that automatically supplies subscribers with new stamp issues of a given country, area or topic.

Same as dead letter.

nondenominated

A stamp without an indication of its face value.

obliteration

A stamp that may be used for postage but is unavailable from any post office.

occupation issue

An issue released and used in a foreign-occupied territory.

A non-centered stamp design.

offices abroad

When one nation operates a post office in another country.

Stamp or stationery issued solely for the use of (civilian) government personnel.

official reprint

Stamps reprinted at a later date by the original issuing entity from the original plates.

Describes a stamp soaked off from paper.

Where an inked image is first transferred onto a plate or a sheet and then the image is applied to paper.

Stands for On His (or Her) Majesty's Service.

omnibus issue

A stamp issue using a common theme that is released by several postal entities.

A stamp including a portion of the original envelope which shows the cancel mark.

ordinary usage

Indicates the use of the correct rate of postage.

original gum (OG)

The adhesive coating on a mint or unused stamp or envelope flap.

overprint (OPT or OVPT)

A print made over a stamp's original completed design.

Darkening of the ink on certain stamps caused by exposure.

Auction term, "poor quality."

A presorted selection of stamps that does NOT contain duplicates.

Two connected stamps.

The unit into which a full press sheet is divided before its sale; also, stamps as sold by the post office, typically 50 stamps.

French for "By Air," and refers to airmail.

parcel post stamps

Stamps created specifically for paying parcel post fees.

part-perforate

A stamp with all perforations missing on one or more sides.

The ends of rolls of coiled stamps joined together with glue or tape.

pen canceled

Stamps canceled with an ink pen or marker pen.

Stamps that an organization perforates through the face in some manner to discourage unauthorized use by their employees.

perforation

The punching out of holes between stamps to ease separation.

Franking by the imprint of a number and additional information that identifies a mailer's prepaid postage account.

A bogus stamp with no postal value.

phantom philately

Hobby of collecting bogus stamps.

philatelic cover

See postally used.

Philatelic Numismatic Combination (PNC)

A combination of a cover, coin and a related stamp.

The collection and study of postage stamps, postmarks, stamped envelopes, etc.

Stamp bearing a picture, but not a coat of arms or portrait.

The unit on a press used to produce stamps.

plate block (PB)

A block of stamps from the corner or side of a pane.

plate number

Numerals or an alphanumeric combination that identifies the printing plate used to print postage stamps.

plate number block

Same as plate block, but it includes the number(s) of the plate(s) used to print the sheet.

Reconstructing a pane by collecting units of stamps representing various positions.

plebiscite issue

A stamp issue promoting a popular (plebiscite) vote.

postal card

A government-produced postcard that includes a prepaid postage imprint in its upper right corner.

postal history

The study of postal-related history, such as rates, markings, processes, etc.

postal stationery

Forms, including cards, that include imprinted (rather than adhesive) stamps.

postally used

A stamp or cover that has actually been used to carry a personal or business communication.

A card, usually with a picture on one side and a space for a written message on the other, which requires a postage stamp.

Any official postal marking, typically referring to cancellations.

Postmaster, postmistress.

Postmaster General.

Stamp with a special overprint cancellation allowing it to bypass normal canceling.

press sheet

A complete unit of stamps as printed (not separated into panes).

printer's waste

Misprinted, misperforated or misgummed stamps commonly created during stamp production.

Steps that finish a printed stamp sheet such as perforation, trimming, division into panes, and packaging.

Trial impressions from a die or printing plate before actual stamp production. Proofs are made to examine a die or plate for defects or to compare the results of using different inks.

provisional

A postage stamp issued for temporary use to meet postal demands until new or regular stocks of stamps can be obtained.

quadripartition

A complete design consisting of either a block or strip of four stamps.

railroad cancel

Postmark applied to mail in a railway mail car.

Postal instructions to return the piece of mail.

recess printed

Modifying a detail on an issued stamp.

A postal piece that has been cut to eliminate uneven edges.

regional commemoratives

New stamp issues distributed only in a region where they are expected to be attractive.

registered mail

Mail with a numbered receipt that is signed by each postal employee as it is handled during processing.

registration stamps

Stamps issued specifically for paying registration fees.

An official reprinting of a previously discontinued stamp.

rejoined perforations

Perforations that have been reattached, usually with adhesives.

release date

Formal date as to when a postal authority makes an item available for purchase.

re-perforated

Stamp that has been perforated again to fool a collector.

reply postcards

A pair of joined postcards, one for original message and other for reply.

Stamps printed (from original plates) after the issue became obsolete or demonetized.

revenue stamp

Paper that shows parallel ridges on at least one side of a stamp.

ribbed frame

Varieties of encased postage with fine parallel lines on the silver side of the metal case.

rotary press stamps

Stamps printed from curved plates.

rough perforation

Refers to jagged holes.

The cutting of paper between stamps in order to make the separation of the stamps easier.

Railway post office.

Refers to right side.

Return to sender.

rubber stamp address

Address applied to a cover using a rubber stamp.

rural free delivery (RFD)

Begun in 1896, brought daily mail delivery to residents living outside urban areas.

A self-addressed, stamped envelope.

safety paper

Refers to any paper created to make stamps resistant to forgery.

A stamp that has an abraded surface.

secret mark

A minute alteration to a stamp design for distinguishing a printing or to deter counterfeiting.

self-adhesive

The printed or unprinted marginal paper on a sheet or pane of stamps.

Stamp sold at greater than its face value and the additional charge used for a designated purpose, usually charitable.

A group of stamps, printed over a period of time and using a similar design or theme.

Stamps with common design elements that are typically issued and collected as a group.

Two or more stamps that are joined, but which differ by denomination, design or colors.

Any minor variations in stamp color.

sheet (SH or SHT)

A complete unit of stamps as printed. Stamps are usually printed in large sheets (often 200 stamps) and are separated into two or more panes before shipment to post offices.

A mistake due to imperfect contact between a sheet and a transfer roll.

An incomplete set of stamps.

Refers to encased stamps that have a thin silver coating for a coinlike effect.

Placing authenticated and/or graded stamps into containers to discourage tampering.

Stamp or other collectible item that may be underpriced, potentially being a good investment.

A flat, transparent holder used to protect and/or store covers.

Removal of stamps from envelope paper.

souvenir card

A philatelic card which has no postal use and which is usually created for a special event.

souvenir page

A U.S.P.S. announcement of a new stamp issue.

souvenir sheet

A small sheet of stamps that has a wide margin, which includes information about a commemorative event.

space filler

A stamp in poor condition that is used to fill the designated space in an album until a better stamp is acquired.

special printing

Reissue of a current stamp that features distinctive color, paper or perforations.

A stamp collector who focuses on a limited area such as stamps from a certain time period, country, topic, etc.

Postal items which have an overprint of the word "Specimen" which is used for identification or publicity.

speculative issue

Stamp issues released for sale to collectors.

An official postage label that signifies that the mail delivery fee has been paid.

A book containing rows of pockets on each page for holding stamps.

straight edge (SE)

Stamps that have no perforations on one or two adjacent sides.

Three or more intact stamps in a row or column.

An overprint that increases a stamp or postal stationary face value.

See semipostal.

A closed box containing dampened spongelike material and a grill for holding stamps. It is used to separate stamps from other stamps or envelopes.

syncopated perforation

An interrupted perforation.

Adding phosphor material to stamps in order to activate automated mail-handling equipment.

Trial color proof.

The protruding points along the outer edge of a separated, perforated stamp.

telegraph stamp

Label used for paying telegraph fees.

French term describing two or more intact stamps that are inverted in relation to each other.

A collection of stamps featuring a specific topic.

A stamp that is attached to an envelope and a cancel mark touches both items.

Tweezers for handling stamps.

Stamp or cover showing a particular subject, or a stamp collection that features the same topic.

transit postmark

A postal mark that is made between destination points.

transition stamp

A strip of stamps showing a change from one design to another.

A strip of three related stamps that form a single design.

A basic design of a stamp or a set.

A fine printing underlying the design of a stamp, most often used to deter counterfeiting.

A stamp without gum.

A stamp without hinge marks.

Stamps prepared for postal use but which are not issued.

Universal Postal Union (UPU)

An international organization that regulates postal usage and aids in moving mail among its member nations.

unofficial first day cancel

Cancels applied on the first day of stamp's issue, but not in the issuing city.

An uncanceled stamp that has not been used but has some feature which eliminates it from mint status.

United States Postal Service.

variable denomination

A stamp that is issued by a vending machine. A denomination is printed on the stamp at the time it is purchased.

A variation from the standard form of a stamp, such as inverts, watermarks, missing colors, imperforates, wrong colors and major color shifts.

Stamp condition, "very fine."

Stamp condition, "very good."

A stamp design's center that is usually surrounded by a border and, sometimes, includes a gradual shading into the surrounding area.

A stamp that includes its year of issue.

Very lightly hinged.

Issues that have little or no philatelic or monetary value.

A collector's list of needed stamps or covers that is given to a dealer and typically includes information on desired condition and pricing.

war tax stamps

Stamps used on mail during wars as a fund-raiser.

water-activated adhesive

Stamp gum that adheres when it is moistened.

A deliberate thinning of paper during its manufacture to produce a semitranslucent pattern.

A continuous roll of paper used in stamp printing.

wine stamps

Stamps issued by the U.S.Treasury Department for paying taxes on wines.

wiping creases

Marks on printing plates that are caused by cleaning blades and are transferred to a stamp.

Paper that is made by pressing the pulp against a fine netting, resulting in a finished product with a very uniform texture.

wreck cover

Mail salvaged from a shipwreck.

zeppelins (zeps)

Stamps issued to commemorate zeppelin (airship) flights.

A cartoon postal carrier used by the U.S. to encourage use of zip codes.

U.S. marginal marking block with the selvage bearing the image of the "ZIP" cartoon and/or words to encourage zip code use.

The U.S. numerical postal code used to speed and mechanize mail handling and delivery. The letters stand for Zone Improvement Plan.