STAMP TIPS
Some Common Stamp Terms
accumulation a large quantity of stamps often with many duplicates
album a binder with stamp mounting pages
approvals stamp sent by dealer for inspection & possible purchase
binder a book for holding stamp mounting pages
booklet pane 4-12 stamps printed together for small bookIets
bourse a stamp event with dealers present
cachet a special cancellation for first-day or speciel event
cancellation a mark, defacing the stamp, to prevent reuse
cancelled to order cancelled in sheets, not used on letters
catalog a book listing stamps issued in a given area and their value
CDS circular date stamp cancellation
centering degree of evenness by borders around stamp
changeling "wrong" color caused by chemicals, heat or light
cinderella a stamp or item not listed in ordinary catalogs
coil stamp printed in strips, often straight on opposite sides
commemorative stamps issued to honor a person, place or thing
common design stamps of identical design issued by two or more countries
cover card or envelope with stamp or stamps affixed
cut square corner of card or envelope with printed stamp
definitive stamp issued over a long time for ordinary mail purposes
duplicate more than one copy of a stamp
EFO's errors, freaks & oddities; stamps misprinted in a variety of ways
essay a trial design for a stamp, not adopted
face value value when used for mailing letter or package
fantasy stamp issued by a deposed or non-existent government
fault defect such as thin spot, crease missing perforation, etc.
first day cover envelope bearing stamp cancel dated first day of issue
forgery imitation of an issued stamp, unlawfully produced
glassine a transparent paper used for stamp envelopes
granite paper paper incorporating colored silk threads
gum adhesive used to attach a stamp to envelope or card
gutter pair two stamps separated by paper from sheet margin
hingeless plastic mounts for stamps which do not disturb their gum
imperforate without holes in margins, must be cut apart
killer part of cancel consisting of horizontal bars
kiloware stamp mixtures sold by foreign governments to dealers
laid paper paper showing parallel lines when seen from back
line pair two attached coil stamps with vertical line between
local a stamp valid for postage in a very limited area
lot any group or collection offered as a unit
maximum card souvenir with stamp plus color enlargement of same
mixture an assortment of stamps with duplication
never-hinged (NH) without any mark on the gum on stamp back
on piece with part of envelope or other paper attached
overprint any words or design printed on stamp before sale
parcel post stamp stamp issued for postage on packages
pelure paper thin, semi-transparent paper
pen cancel stamp defaced by pen stroke rather than stamped cancel
perforated having holes around margin to help in stamp separation
perforation gauge a metal or plastic plate used to measure perforation spacing
philatelic pertaining to stamps and covers
plate block 4-6 stamps, with selvage containing control number(s)
PNC (Plate number coil) coil stamp with small plate number on bottom
post card a small card which can be mailed without envelope
postane due stamp stamp showing additional postage that must be collected
postal card a government issued post card with printed stamp
postal stationery postal cards and envelopes bearing a printed stamp
postal tax stamp tax stamp required on letter plus regular postage
postally used used on actual mail, not cancelled-to-order
printer's waste imperfect stamps from mistakes in printing process
proof test printing of accepted design, often in different colors
quadrille pages pages with crossed lines to help in mpunting
regular issue see definitive
regummed new adhesive applied after original was removed
remainders unsold stamps from original issue
repaired intentionally altered to improve appearance
reprint stamp printed from original plate, usually unofficially
revenue stamp a stamp issued for tax, not postal purposes
rouletted having slits around margin to help in stamp separation
SASE or SSAE stamped, self-addressed envelope
second a stamp having moderate to serious faults
selvage blank paper from sheet margins attached to stamp
semi-postal stamps having extra charge added for charitable purpose
set two or more stamps of a common theme, usually issued together
se-tenant two attached stamps of different designs or values
short set a set missing one or more values, usually the high one
short corner one or more perforations missing on corner of stamp
socked-on-nose cancel cancellation nicely centered on stamp
souvenir card a special card with stamp designs, not valid for postage
souvenir sheet small sheet with few stamps and margins, good for postage
space filler a faulty stamp good enough to occupy a space in your album
stampless cover stampless envelope, usually bearing town and postage amt.
stock card a page with pockets for storing or displaying stamps
straight-edge stamp lacking perforations on one side only
surcharge an overprint which changes value of the stamp
tete-beche two attached stamps, of which one is inverted
topical stamp related to theme such as music, sports, birds, etc.
tropical gum yellow or brown color, due to heat or age
watermark design impressed in paper, visible when stamp is wet
wove paper ordinary paper without apparent grain