This glossary defines those terms most frequently encountered by stamp collectors and cover collectors. Precise definitions for many philatelic terms do not exist. One collector, dealer or society may define a term in one way, while others will use the term in a slightly different way.
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Accessories -- Any of the large variety of collecting tools and aids. Accessories include hinges, mounts, stamp tongs, perforation gauges, stock books, magnifiers and philatelic literature. Stamp albums and catalogs can also be regarded as accessories.
Adhesive -- A word generally referring to a stamp. An adhesive is a label affixed to an article to prepay postal fees, in contrast to a design printed directly on an article, as with postal stationery. An adhesive can also refer to a registration label or other label added to a cover.
Admirals -- A nickname for three British Commonwealth definitive series, those of Canada, 1912-25 (Scott 104-34); New Zealand, 1926 (182-84); and Rhodesia, 1913-19 (119-38). These stamps depict King George V in naval uniform.
Aerogramme -- The official Universal Postal Union designation for an airletter sheet. These sheets, with gummed flaps, are written on and folded into themselves to form their own envelope and are carried at less than the letter airmail rate. No enclosures are permitted.
Aerophilately -- A specialized area of collecting concentrating on stamps or covers carried by air.
Agency -- 1) The extraterritorial post offices maintained at various times by governments in the territory of other governments. Examples are the post offices maintained by many European powers in the Turkish Empire until 1923. 2) An official or private organization that publicizes or sells new issues of stamps on behalf of stamp-issuing entities.
Air Labels -- Air labels, or etiquettes, are standard-sized blue labels used by UPU member nations to denote airmail carriage. They are inscribed "Par Avion'' (French for "By Airmail''). The text usually includes the same message in the language of the native country. Air labels also are adhesives issued by private organizations for specific, unofficial flights. See also Semiofficial.
Airmail -- The carriage of mail by air. The first regular airmail service began in 1870, when mail was carried from Paris, France, then besieged by German forces, over enemy lines by balloon. The first airmail stamp was issued by Italy in 1917 (Italy Scott C1).
Albino -- An uninked impression made by a printing plate. Such errors are scarce on stamps. They are more often found on postal stationery.
Album -- Albums are binders, usually with pages, for the mounting and display of stamps and covers. Albums come in many sizes, styles and themes. See the Album section in this almanac.
Album Weed -- In general, a forged stamp. It also refers to unusual items that resemble postage stamps but were not intended to pay postage, like publicity labels and bogus issues. Album Weeds is the title of a reference on forged stamps, written by the Rev. R. Brisco Earee.
Ambulante -- This word means "moving" in Spanish and other Romance languages. It appears in cancellations and indicates that the item was processed by a mobile post office.
Aniline -- Ink with a coal-tar base. Such inks were used in stamp printing to prevent erasure of cancellations and reuse of stamps. Aniline inks are very sensitive and may dissolve in water or other liquids or chemicals. Approvals -- Priced selections of stamps sent to collectors by mail. The collector purchases the items he chooses, returning the balance with payment for those kept.
Army Post Office (APO) -- An official United States post office for use by U.S. military units abroad. An army post office or military post office is set up to distribute mail to and from military personnel. Locations are indicated by numbers only to prevent revealing personnel locations. The locations become generally known after a war is over.
Arrow -- On many sheets, small arrow-like markings appear in the selvage, generally serving as guides for the cutting of the sheets into predetermined units. Some collectors save stamps or blocks displaying these marks. Art Paper -- A very fine paper with a specially prepared surface that allows the controlled application of ink or pigment.
As Is -- A term written in auction descriptions and spoken or written during a retail transaction. It indicates that an item or lot is sold without guarantee or return privilege. Stamps are usually sold "as is" when they are in poor condition or are possibly not genuine.
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.
Backprint -- Printing on the reverse of a stamp. Some countries have printed advertising or messages on the backs of stamps.
Backstamp -- A postmark applied to mail by the receiving post office or by a post office handling the piece while it is in transit. Backstamps are usually on the back of a cover, but they can be on the front.
Bank Mixture -- A high-quality mixture of stamps. It generally represents clippings from the correspondence of banks and other businesses with extensive overseas business, and thus includes a relatively high proportion of foreign stamps of high face value. See also Mission Mixture.
Bantams -- The nickname of the South African definitive series of 1942-43 (Scott 90-97). Wartime economy measures required stamps of small size to conserve paper.
Batonne -- A wove or laid paper with watermark-like lines deliberately added in the papermaking process and intended as a guide for handwriting.
Bicolored Stamps -- Stamps printed in two colors.
Bilingual -- Refers to stamps inscribed in two languages. Most Canadian stamps include both English and French text. South African stamps are sometimes in both English and Afrikaans.
Bisect -- A stamp cut or perforated into two parts, each half representing half the face value of the original stamp. Officially authorized bisects have often been used during temporary shortages of commonly used denominations. Unauthorized bisects appear frequently on mail from some countries in some periods. Bisects are usually collected on full cover with the stamp tied by a cancel. At times, some countries have permitted trisects or quadrisects.
Bishop Mark -- The earliest postmark, introduced by Henry Bishop in England circa 1661. A Bishop Mark was used to indicate the month and day that a letter was received by a post office. It encouraged prompt delivery by letter carriers.
Black Jack -- The nickname of the United States 2c black Andrew Jackson stamp, issued between 1863 and 1875.
Blind Perforation -- Perforations that have been only lightly impressed by the perforating pins, leaving the paper intact, but cut or with a faint impression. Some stamps that appear to be imperforate really are not if they have blind perfs. Stamps with blind perfs are minor varieties carrying little, if any, price premium over normally perforated copies.
Block -- A unit of four or more unsevered stamps, including at least two stamps both vertically and horizontally. Most commonly a block refers to a block of four, or a block of stamps two high and two wide.
Bluenose -- The nickname for the Canadian 50c issue of 1929, picturing the schooner Bluenose, Canada Scott 158.
Bogus -- A completely fictitious stamp-like label, created solely for sale to collectors. Bogus issues include labels for non-existent countries, non-existent values appended to regularly issued sets and issues for nations or entities without postal systems.
Bond Paper -- A security paper of high quality, used to a limited extent in early stamp printing. Originally, bond was made from rags. The modern paper used for first-day covers is usually a bond quality paper.
Booklet -- A unit of one or more small panes or blocks (known as booklet panes) glued, stitched or stapled together between thin card covers to form a convenient unit for mailers to purchase and carry. The first officially issued booklet was produced by Luxembourg in 1895.
Bourse -- A meeting of stamp collectors and/or dealers, where stamps and covers are sold or exchanged. A bourse usually has no competitive exhibits of stamps or covers. Almost all stamp exhibits, though, do include a dealer bourse.
Bull's-Eyes -- 1) The nickname for the first issue of Brazil, 1843 (Scott 1-3). The similar but smaller issues are called goat's eyes. 2) A bull's-eye cancel refers to a "socked-on-the-nose" cancel, one that is centered directly on the stamp so that the stamp shows the location and date of mailing.
Burelage -- A design of fine, intricate lines printed on the face of security paper, either to discourage counterfeiting or to prevent the cleaning and reuse of a stamp. The burelage on some stamps is part of the stamp design.
Burele -- Adjective form for burelage, meaninghaving a fine network of lines. Some stamps of Queensland have a burele band on the back. Also called moire.
Cachet -- In French, cachet means a stamp or a seal. In cover collecting, a cachet refers to a printed or handstamped design on an envelope denoting some special feature of the cover. Cachets appear on modern first-day covers, first-flight covers and special event covers.
Canceled To Order (CTO) -- Stamps are "canceled to order," usually in full sheets, by many governments. Often, the cancels are printed on the stamps at the same time that the stamp design is printed. CTO stamps are sold to stamp dealers at large discounts from face value. CTO stamps have never seen actual postal use. Most catalogs say whether they price CTO stamps or genuinely used ones. A stamp with a cancel and with full gum is likely a CTO stamp.
Cancel, Cancellation -- A marking that shows a stamp has been used. Modern cancels usually include the location of the post office from which the item is mailed and the date of mailing. Some also include a section of lines, bars, text or a design that "kills" the value of the stamp. This part of a cancel is called the killer.
Cantonal Stamps -- Issues of the Swiss cantons used before the release of national stamps. The cantonal issues of Basel (1845), Geneva (1843-50) and Zurich (1843-50) are among the classics of philately.
Cape Triangles -- Nickname for the triangular Cape of Good Hope stamps of 1853-64, the first stamps printed in triangular format. The distinctive shape helped illiterate postal clerks distinguishing letters originating in the colony from those from other colonies.
Catalog -- Comprehensive compilation of postage stamps and revenue stamps, providing descriptions and, usually, values for the items, often including stamps priced on cover. Catalog Value -- The value of a stamp as listed in a given catalog for the most common condition in which the stamp is usually collected. Some catalogs list stamps at a retail value. European catalogs call their retail catalogs "netto" catalogs. In general, a stamp's catalog value should be regarded as a target price for the stamp. Some stamps are a bargain at double their catalog value. Others may be overpriced at one quarter of their catalog value. Most catalogs have a minimum price for the most common stamps that reflects a minimum handling charge for a dealer.
Censored Mail -- A cover bearing a handstamp or label indicating that the envelope has been opened and read by a censor. Centering -- The relative position of the design of a stamp in relation to its margins. Assuming that a stamp is undamaged, centering is generally a very important factor in determining condition and value.
Certified Mail -- A service of most postal adminstrations that provides proof of mailing and delivery without indemnity for loss or damage.
Chalky Paper -- A chalk-surfaced paper for printing stamps. Any attempt to remove the cancel on a used chalky-paper stamp will also remove the design. Immersion of such stamps in water will cause the design to lift off. Touching chalky paper with silver will leave a discernible, pencil-like mark and is a means of distinguishing chalky paper.
Changeling -- A stamp whose color has been changed by contact with a chemical or sunlight.
Charity Seals -- Stamp-like labels that are produced by a charity. They have no postal validity, although they are often affixed to envelopes, usually on the reverse. United States Christmas seals are an example.
Charity Stamp (Semipostal) -- A stamp sold at a higher price than its postal value. The additional charge is usually noted on the stamp and is earmarked for a special fund. The use of semipostal stamps is voluntary. Postal tax stamps are similar to semipostals, but their use is usually required for all mail being posted during a specific period.
Cinderella -- Stamp-like label that is not a postage stamp. Cinderellas include a wide variety of stamp-like labels, seals and bogus issues.
Classic -- An early issue, with a connotation ofrarity, although classic stamps are not necessarily rare. A particularly scarce recent item may be referred to as a modern classic.
Cleaning (Stamps) -- Soiled or stained stamps are sometimes cleaned with chemicals or by erasing. The cleaning is usually done to improve the appearance of a stamp. Sometimes it is done to make a used stamp appear unused. A cleaned stamp can also mean one from which a cancellation has been removed.
Coil -- A stamp prepared in rolls for sale and use in stamp-vending and affixing machines. Coils are often imperforate on two parallel sides and bear distinctive perforations. Some are numbered on the back to distinguish them from sheet stamps.
Collateral Material -- Any supportive or explanatory material relating to a given stamp or philatelic topic. The material may be either directly postal in nature (post office news releases, rate schedules, souvenir cards, promotional buttons) or non-postal (maps, photos of scenes appearing on stamps).
Combination Cover -- Cover bearing the stamps of more than one country when separate postal charges are paid for transport of a cover by each country. Also stamps of the same country canceled at twodifferent times on the same cover as a souvenir.
Commatology -- Specialized collecting of postmarks. This term was invented before World War II to describe postmark collecting. It is rarely used. Usually, collectors refer to postmark collecting or marcophily.
Commemorative -- A stamp issued to note a special event or anniversary. A limited quantity of these stamps is available at the post office for a limited period. See also Definitive.
Compound Perforations -- Different gauge perforations on different sides of a single stamp. The sides with the different perforations are usually perpendicular.
Condition -- The general state of a stamp or a cover. Condition relates to a stamp's centering, gum, perforations, freshness and color.
Controlled Mail -- A system in which the mailer selects philatelically desirable issues for outgoing mail, arranges for light cancellation and secures the stamps' return by the addressee. Such controlled mail operations ensure a steady stream of collectible stamps into the trade, especially postally used examples of high face value stamps.
Copyright Block -- Block of four or more United States stamps with the copyright notice marginal marking of the United States Postal Service. The copyright marking was introduced in 1978 and replaced the Mail Early marking.
Corner Card -- An imprinted return address, generally in the upper left corner of an envelope, from a commercial, institutional or private source, similar to business cards or letterheads.
Counterfeit -- Any stamp, cancellation or cover created for deception or imitation, intended to be used as genuine. A counterfeit stamp is designed to deceive postal authorities.
Cover -- An envelope or piece of postal stationery, usually one that has been mailed. A cover also refers to folded letters that were addressed and mailed without an envelope.
Crash Cover -- A cover that has been salvaged from the crash of an airplane, train, ship or other vehicle. Such covers often carry a postal marking explaining their damaged condition.
Crease -- A noticeable weakening of the paper of a stamp or cover, having been caused by its being folded or bent at some point. Creases substantially lower a stamp's value. On covers, creases affect value when they go through the attached stamp or a postal marking. Stamp creases are visible in watermark fluid.
Cut Cancellation -- A cancellation that cuts the stamp. Often a wedge-shaped section is cut away. On many issues, such cancellations indicate use of postage stamps as fiscals or telegraph stamps rather than as postage. Cut cancellations were used experimentally on early U.S. postage stamps to prevent re-use.
Cut Square -- A postal stationery cut-out. The imprinted stamp is neatly cut from the entire envelope, wrapper or postal card in a square or rectangular piece. Collectors generally prefer to collect stationery as entire pieces rather than as cut squares. Some older stationery is only available in cut squares.
Cut To Shape -- A non-rectangular stamp or postal stationery imprint cut to the shape of the design, rather than cut square. Cut-to-shape stamps and stationery generally have lower value than those cut square. The unique 1856 British Guiana 1� magenta, the world's most valuable stamp, is a cut-to-shape stamp.
Cylinder -- A plate used on a modern rotary press. The plate has no seams. For United States stamps, cylinders are used to print photogravure stamps. See also Sleeve.
Dead Country -- A former stamp-issuing entity that has ceased to issue its own stamps. Also, the old name of a stamp-issuing entity that has changed its name, so that the old name will no longer be used on stamps.
Definitive -- Stamp issued for an indefinite period and in indefinite quantity, usually for several years or more. The United States Presidential issue of 1938 and the Transportation coil stamps are examples. Definitive stamp designs usually do not honor a specific time-dated event.
Deltiology -- Picture postcard collecting.
Denomination -- The face value of a stamp. It is usually printed on the stamp. Modern stamps produced for rate changes sometimes are denominated with a letter. A numerical value is assigned when the letter stamps are issued. An example of this is the U.S. E stamp, which represented the first-class rate of 25�.
Die -- The original engraving of a stamp. A transfer roller is made from a die, and printing plates are made from the transfer roller. When more than one die is used in the production of an issue, distinctive varieties are often identifiable.
Directory Markings -- Postal indication of delivery attempt, stating reason for failure. Examples are "No Such Number," "Address Unknown" and "Moved."
Duck Stamp -- Popular name of United States hunting permit stamp, issued for use on hunting licenses. Each annual stamp depicts waterfowl. Also, the duck stamps issued by the various states for use by hunters or for sale to collectors.
Dummy Stamp -- Officially produced imitation stamp used to train employees or to test automatic stamp-dispensing machines. Dummy stamps are usually blank or carry special inscriptions, blocks or other distinguishing ornamentation. They are not valid for postage, nor are they intended to reach the hands of stamp collectors. Some do by favor of postal employees.
Duplex Cancel -- A two-part postal marking comprised of a canceler and a postmark. The canceler voids the stamp so it cannot be reused. The postmark notes place and date of mailing.
Duplicate -- An additional copy of a stamp that one already has in a collection. Beginners often consider stamps to be duplicates that really are not. They overlook perforation, watermark or color varieties.
Embossing -- The process of giving relief to paper by pressing it with a die. Embossed designs are often found on postal stationery (usually on envelopes and wrappers). Occasionally stamps have been embossed.
Encased Postage Stamp -- A stamp inserted into a small coin-size case with a transparent front or back. Such stamps were circulated as legal coins during periods when coins were scarce.
Entire -- An intact piece of postal stationery, in contrast to a cut-out of the printed design. This term is sometimes used in reference to an intact cover or folded letter.
Error -- A major mistake in the production of a stamp or postal stationery item. Printing errors include imperforate or part-perforate varieties, missing or incorrect colors and inversion or doubling of part of the design or overprint. Major errors are usually far scarcer than the normal stamps and are highly valued by collectors.
Essay -- The artwork of a proposed design for a stamp. Some essays are rendered photographically. Others are drawn in pencil or ink or are painted. Most essays are rejected. One becomes the essay for the accepted design.
Europa -- The "United Europe" theme, celebrated on stamps of Western European nations since 1956. The original Europa stamps were issued by the nations in the European coal and steel association. Today, the European nations that are members of the postal and telecommunications association (CEPT) issue Europa stamps.
Expertization -- The examination of a stamp or cover by an acknowledged expert, to determine if it is genuine. Today, an expert or expertizing body issues a signed certificate, often with an attached photograph, attesting to the item's status.
Exploded -- A stamp booklet is said to be exploded when it has been separated into its various components for purposes of display. This usually refers to booklets held together by staples. Modern glued booklets usually cannot be exploded without damaging the individual booklet panes.
Face Value -- The value of a stamp as inscribed on its face, or for better- denominated or undenominated stamps, the understood postal value of the stamp.
Facsimile -- Reproduction of a genuine stamp or cover. Such items are usually made with no intent to deceive collectors or postal officials. Catalog illustrations are facsimiles.
Fake -- A stamp, cover or cancel altered or concocted to appeal to a collector. In a broad sense, fakes include repairs, reperforations and regummed stamps, as well as painted-in cancels, bogus cancels or markings. Sometimes entire covers are faked.
Farley's Follies -- During 1933-34, U.S. Postmaster General James A. Farley supplied a few imperforate sheets of current commemorative issues to President Franklin D. Roosevelt and other government officials. The resulting uproar from U.S. collectors forced the government to release for public sale 20 stamps in generally imperforate and ungummed condition. They are United States Scott 752-71. Numbers 752-53 are perforated.
Fast Colors -- Inks resistant to fading.
Field Post Office (FPO) -- A military post office operating in the field, either on land or at sea. See also Fleet Post Office.
Find -- A new discovery, usually of something that was not thought to exist. It can be a single item or a hoard of stamps or covers.
First Day Cover (FDC) -- A cover bearing a stamp tied by a cancellation showing the date of the first day of issue of that stamp.
Fiscal -- A revenue stamp or similar label denoting the payment of taxes. Fiscals are ordinarily affixed to documents and canceled by pen, canceler or mutilation. Because of their similarity to postage stamps, fiscals have occasionally been used both legally and illegally to prepay postage. See also Postal Fiscal.
Flat Plate -- Printing from a flat plate, as opposed to a curved or cylindrical plate.
Flaw -- A defect in a plate, causing an identifiable variety in the stamp itself.
Fleet Post Office (FPO) -- An official U.S. post office for use by U.S. military naval units abroad. See also Field Post Office.
Forerunner -- A stamp or postal stationery item used in a given location prior to the issuing of regular stamps for that location. Turkish stamps before 1918 canceled in Palestine are forerunners of Israeli issues. So are the various European nations' issues for use in Palestine, and the subsequent issues of the Palestine Mandate.
Forgery -- A completely fraudulent reproduction of a postage stamp. There are two general types of forgeries: 1) those intended to defraud the postal authorities, see also Counterfeit; and 2) those intended to defraud the collectors, see also Bogus.
Frama -- A general name used for an automatic stamp. Automatic stamps are produced individually by a machine on demand in a denomination selected by the customer. There normally is no date on the stamp, like there is on a meter strip. Also called ATM, from the German word Automatenmarken.
Frame -- The outer portion of the stamp design, usually a line or a group of panels.
Frank, Franking -- An indication on a cover that postage is prepaid, partially prepaid or that the letter is to be carried free of postage. Franks may be written, handstamped, imprinted or affixed. Free franking is usually limited to government correspondence or soldiers' mail. Stamps are the modern method of franking a letter.
Freak -- An abnormal, usually non-repetitive occurrence in the production of stamps. Most paper folds, overinking and perforation shifts are freaks. Those abnormalities occurring regularly are called varieties or major errors.
Front -- The front of a cover with most or all of the back and side panels torn away or removed. Fronts, while desirable if they bear unusual or uncommon postal markings, are less desirable than an intact cover.
Fugitive Inks -- Inks that easily fade or break up in water or chemicals. To counter attempts at forgery or the removal of cancellations, many governments have used fugitive inks to print stamps.