Common Philatelic Terms

The postings over the last few weeks focused on the vocabulary used for stamp varieties, nicknames, errors and other famous stamps. This post is more of a glossary of popular terms every promising philatelist should know. Below is our list:



TermExplanation
AlbinoA stamp with die colors completely missing

Bank Mixture
Stamps usually on paper sourced from a financial institution.
BourseA stamp show or marketplace where stamps are bought & sold.
Boxed PostmarkA rectangular postmark as opposed to the normal circular ones.
BridgeA small band of paper between perforations in sheets of stamps.
Bull’s EyeStamps with cancel with date right in the middle of the design.
Catalogue ValueThe retail value of postage stamps as mentioned in one of the major stamp catalogues
CenteringPosition of the design of the stamp in relation to the paper it is printed on
Circular Date Stamp (CDS) PostmarkA circular cancel that shows date & place of mailing.
Compound PerforationStamps with different perforations on the sides
Crash coverA letter salvaged from a wreck that has been delivered with a postal mark explaining the damage
DieThe metal on which stamp designs are made (engraved or etched) for production
Die CutMachine cut applied between self-adhesive stamps that keeps the backing paper intact
Double ImpressionTwo impressions of the stamp design on a stamp
Duplex CancelsA stamp with two cancels – one indicating location & date and the other a mark that obliterates the design.
Face Value or DenominationThe amount of money paid when purchasing a stamp from the postal service
Fancy CancelA cancel that has a pictorial design of its own.
First-flight CoverA cover that was carried on a first flight opening a new airmail route – a cachet describing the event is usually part of the cover design
GutterThe space between two adjacent stamps in a sheet
HandstampedCancelled by hand using a rubber stamp or similar device
Imperforate betweenTwo stamps attached together with perforations on all sides but either the vertical or horizontal middle perforations missing
ImprintAny information printed on the selvage of a stamp sheet.
Laid paperA type of paper used to manufacture stamps characterized by parallel lines (horizontal or vertical) visible when held against light
Lightly Hinged (LH) Hinged so that the hinge mark is barely noticeable.
VarietySame stamp but with differences in color, perforation, watermark, etc
MicroprintingPrinting made of tiny lettering on some postage stamps used as a security device, part of the design, and/or identification
MintStamps that were not used for postage
Mint, never hinged (MNH)An unhinged uncanceled stamp
Mission MixtureStamps usually on paper sourced from a charitable mission.
MuteStamps with no identification markings. Also applies to cancels as in “mute cancels” when the cancellation doesn’t have any information
Numeral CancelationsCancelations that use numbers to identify mailing office
Offices AbroadStamps of one country used in another country characterized by overprints
On coverStamps collected on the original envelope.
OxidizedA stamp that has changed color due to oxidation.
Pen cancelationA cancelation applied by pen
Pictorial CancelA cancelation with a distinct design
PlateA sheet of metal on which stamp design is engraved for printing
Plate NumberA number shared by all sheets of stamps run through a given plate.
QuadrilleA type of stamp album page that have ruled squares that help with arranging stamps in the page.
RegummedStamps with gum applied after issue usually to defraud collectors.
RoulettingSlits between certain types of stamp sheets that facilitate separation.
Safety PaperSpecial paper used by postal authorities to make stamps that make it difficult to forge
SelvageThe portion of a stamp sheet that is not part of a stamp.
Service InscriptionA stamp design in which the type of service is indicated as part of the design.
ShadeMinor color freaks.
SheetA set of stamps joined together produced from a single plate
SilkA special type of paper used by postal authorities for stamp production in which silk threads are included as part of the paper making mixture used as a security measure to prevent forgery.
SlabbingThe procedure of encasing stamps in tamper-protected casing, usually after grading/authentication.
Socked on the noseA cancel that obliterates the design in a stamp.
StainPaper discoloration in a stamp.
Straight EdgeA stamp with no perforations on one or more sides (but not all)
Tagphosphor coating on stamps that aid with automatic mail handling
Tēte-bēcheA pair of stamps connected together, but with one upside down
ThematicsCollecting by a theme
Tied to coverA cancelation that ties a stamp to a cover. Relevant when a particular collectible cover is valuable with the original canceled stamp on it.
UngummedStamps that were issued with no gum by the postal authority
UnhingedStamps that were never hinged
UsedStamps that were used for postage
Universal Postal Union (UPU)International postal body that standardize postal usage across countries.
Wove paperA smooth paper used in stamp production


Though this word list is not all encompassing by any measure, they do rank high in popularity. As always, if you are aware of a term that you believe should be in this list, please comment or let us know by using the “Contact Us” link and we will be sure to incorporate it.


Last Updated: 09/2015.

10 comments :

Ellen C. said...

I'd love to win these stamps for my son. Thanks for the chance.

sweetascandy579 at yahoo dot com

Anonymous said...

hope to win

nonator@uchastings.edu

Anonymous said...

great article

attorneyatwork@hotmail.com

Anonymous said...

very interesting...

res
resterbackup@Hotmail.com

Melanie said...

i just started collecting stamps a couple weeks ago. i've been wondering what people mean by mnh. thanks :)
ikanaide@hotmail.com

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the chance to win. My brother and I are new to stamp collecting. He is collecting dog and cat stamps and I am working on the Boy Scout Stamp Collecting Merit Badge.

Calvin and Johann
edloch@visi.com

tsslug said...

I've been collecting for 47 yrs now. I strictly do US stamps

tsslug7@yahoo.com

Anonymous said...

I love old stamps, been collecting since I was young. Thanks!

pete. said...

Stamps are neat. I haven't collected them since I was a kid.

UPrinting.com Affiliate Program said...

This is great! My cousin is a budding stamp collector, will definitely give this link to him. I'm sure he'll learn lots. Thanks!

Labels

401k ( 15 ) Abad Turtle Beach ( 1 ) Abrams Capital Management ( 5 ) Acoustic Electric Guitars ( 1 ) Acoustic Guitars ( 1 ) ACT ( 1 ) Activist ( 4 ) Address Change ( 2 ) Advanced Placement ( 4 ) air asia ( 2 ) airlines ( 2 ) Akre Capital Management ( 18 ) Alex Roepers ( 5 ) AP ( 4 ) apartments ( 2 ) Appaloosa ( 15 ) ARIUS ( 1 ) Arlington Value Capital ( 3 ) Atlantic Investment Management ( 5 ) Ayemenem ( 1 ) Bangalore ( 3 ) Bangkok ( 2 ) Bannerghatta National Park ( 1 ) barbuda ( 2 ) Battery Park ( 1 ) Baupost ( 2 ) Baupost Group ( 17 ) bay area ( 2 ) BDCs ( 3 ) Benjamin Graham ( 2 ) Benjamin Graham Model ( 2 ) Berijam Lake ( 2 ) Berkshire Hathaway ( 35 ) best sites ( 9 ) Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation ( 41 ) Bill Ackman ( 19 ) Bill Gates ( 40 ) Blue Ridge Capital ( 16 ) Blum Capital Partners ( 12 ) books ( 4 ) Boone Pickens ( 2 ) BP Capital Management ( 2 ) Brave Warrior ( 3 ) Brave Warrior Advisors ( 16 ) british honduras ( 2 ) Bruce Berkowitz ( 19 ) Bruce Fund ( 38 ) Camcorders ( 3 ) canada ( 4 ) cancun ( 3 ) CANROYs ( 7 ) Cantillon ( 12 ) carl icahn ( 9 ) Carl Ichan ( 8 ) casino ( 3 ) Casio ( 2 ) CBRE ( 2 ) CEF ( 2 ) Charles Akre ( 15 ) Charlie Munger ( 40 ) Chase Coleman ( 16 ) Chou Associates ( 29 ) Christmas gifts ( 7 ) Christopher H. Browne ( 7 ) Chuck Akre ( 13 ) Cisco ( 2 ) Class Action Settlements ( 2 ) CLEP ( 1 ) Coatue Management ( 28 ) Cochin ( 2 ) coin collecting ( 266 ) collectibles ( 266 ) Consumer Product Reviews ( 29 ) cook islands ( 2 ) coonoor ( 2 ) Covered Calls ( 2 ) credai ( 4 ) Daily Journal ( 37 ) Dalal Street ( 8 ) Dan Loeb ( 10 ) DAT ( 1 ) David Abrams ( 5 ) David Einhorn ( 22 ) David Swensen ( 17 ) David Tepper ( 15 ) David Winters ( 15 ) DCF ( 2 ) Digital Piano ( 3 ) Dinakar Singh ( 20 ) Donald Yacktman ( 10 ) dry bulk shipping ( 2 ) Duquesne ( 34 ) Education ( 37 ) Edward Lampert ( 21 ) Egerton Capital ( 39 ) Egypt ( 3 ) Elementary Education ( 10 ) Elementary School Textbooks ( 5 ) eReaders ( 2 ) Eric Mindich ( 13 ) ESL Investments ( 14 ) ESPP ( 6 ) ETF ( 2 ) ETN ( 2 ) Eton Park ( 13 ) Everyday Musings ( 58 ) Exam Prep ( 7 ) Exiting the rat race - how to? ( 19 ) EXPLORE ( 1 ) Fair Value Estimates ( 4 ) Fairfax Financial ( 4 ) Fairfax Financial Holdings ( 14 ) Fairholme ( 19 ) Fairpointe ( 28 ) Family Office ( 18 ) FD Laddering ( 1 ) Financial Independence ( 93 ) Fisher Asset Management ( 10 ) Flash Camcorders ( 3 ) flat ( 4 ) flats ( 2 ) Flip ( 3 ) Francis Chou ( 29 ) free ( 17 ) frugal ( 3 ) Frugal Living ( 34 ) Fund Holdings ( 961 ) futures ( 2 ) FVE ( 2 ) gambling ( 3 ) garmin ( 2 ) Genting ( 2 ) george soros ( 27 ) giveaway ( 15 ) Glenn Greenberg ( 20 ) Glenview Capital ( 14 ) GMAT ( 1 ) Google ( 2 ) Gotham Asset Management ( 7 ) gps ( 5 ) GRE ( 1 ) Greenlight Capital ( 22 ) Guitars ( 3 ) Half Marathon ( 2 ) Hawaii ( 2 ) Hedge Funds ( 1154 ) HELOC ( 1 ) High School Education ( 7 ) High School Textbooks ( 6 ) HOA ( 3 ) hobby ( 17 ) holiday shopping ( 7 ) Holidays ( 3 ) Holyland ( 11 ) Home Improvement ( 2 ) home ownership ( 5 ) Homes ( 18 ) Homeschool ( 18 ) Houses ( 2 ) Housing ( 3 ) Hykon ( 2 ) Ian Cumming ( 15 ) Icahn Enterprises ( 6 ) india real estate ( 5 ) Infinuvo ( 6 ) Insurance ( 3 ) invesco ( 17 ) investing strategies ( 3 ) Investment Portfolio ( 96 ) Investment Research ( 10 ) Investments ( 7 ) iRobot ( 5 ) Irving Kahn ( 13 ) israel ( 5 ) Jason Maynard ( 10 ) Jefferies ( 2 ) Jeffrey Bruce ( 39 ) Jeffrey Ubben ( 23 ) Jerusalem ( 2 ) Jim Chanos ( 20 ) Joel Greenblatt ( 7 ) John Armitage ( 40 ) John Griffin ( 16 ) John Paulson ( 17 ) Joho Capital ( 19 ) Jordan ( 3 ) Joseph Steinberg ( 9 ) Julian Robertson ( 4 ) Kahn Brothers ( 14 ) Kakkanad ( 4 ) Kanyakumari ( 2 ) Kawai ( 2 ) Ken Fisher ( 10 ) kerala real estate ( 5 ) Kids ( 49 ) Kids Yamaha ( 3 ) Kindle ( 2 ) kochi ( 8 ) Kodaikanal ( 2 ) Korg ( 2 ) Kraft ( 2 ) Kuala Lumpur ( 2 ) KWA ( 2 ) Kynikos ( 20 ) laptop ( 5 ) Larry Robbins ( 14 ) Las Vegas ( 2 ) Leon Cooperman ( 30 ) Leucadia ( 2 ) Leucadia National ( 13 ) Lone Pine Capital ( 9 ) long ( 6 ) long call ( 2 ) long puts ( 3 ) Lou Simpson ( 15 ) LSAT ( 1 ) Mahabalipuram ( 2 ) Malaysia ( 3 ) Marathon ( 2 ) Mark McGoldrick ( 10 ) Markel ( 23 ) Mason Hawkins ( 4 ) MCAT ( 1 ) Melinda Gates ( 31 ) memorabilia ( 266 ) MFP Investors ( 37 ) Michael Dell ( 22 ) Michael Price ( 40 ) Middle School Education ( 4 ) Middle School Textbooks ( 3 ) Mini Notebook ( 3 ) MODUS ( 1 ) Mohnish Pabrai ( 22 ) mortgage ( 2 ) Mount Kellett ( 10 ) MSD Capital ( 22 ) Music ( 6 ) Mutual Funds ( 8 ) mysore ( 2 ) Nelson Peltz ( 13 ) Netbook ( 4 ) Notebook ( 3 ) numismatics ( 266 ) O-Duster ( 1 ) Oahu ( 2 ) offers ( 2 ) Ole Andreas Halvorsen ( 10 ) Omega Advisors ( 29 ) online tax ( 4 ) ooty ( 2 ) Options ( 4 ) Pabrai Fund ( 17 ) passive income ( 7 ) pattaya ( 2 ) Paulson & Company ( 7 ) Paulson and Company ( 9 ) PEG ( 2 ) Pershing Square ( 19 ) Phil Fisher ( 5 ) philately ( 283 ) Philippe Laffont ( 28 ) Piano ( 9 ) PLAN Test ( 1 ) portfolio ( 4 ) Prem Watsa ( 17 ) product reviews ( 13 ) Property Taxes ( 2 ) PSAT ( 1 ) R2I ( 24 ) R2I Finances ( 3 ) R2I Housing ( 5 ) Raising Kids ( 41 ) Rat Race ( 15 ) RBS Partners ( 19 ) reading ( 5 ) real estate ( 6 ) Reducing Expenses ( 2 ) REIT ( 3 ) Retirement Portfolio ( 9 ) Reviews ( 81 ) Richard C. Blum ( 12 ) Robert Bruce ( 39 ) Robert Karr ( 19 ) Robotic Vacuum ( 4 ) Roland ( 2 ) Roomba ( 10 ) schooling ( 2 ) Sears ( 12 ) seeking alpha ( 2 ) Services - Reviews ( 33 ) Seth Klarman ( 19 ) Shipping ( 5 ) Shopping ( 3 ) short ( 5 ) short calls ( 2 ) short put ( 2 ) short puts ( 2 ) short selling ( 13 ) Ski ( 5 ) Sled ( 4 ) Solar Stocks ( 13 ) Soros Fund Management ( 14 ) Southeastern Asset Management ( 4 ) Southwest ( 2 ) spin-offs ( 2 ) SQ Advisors ( 15 ) stamp collecting ( 283 ) Stanley Druckenmiller ( 33 ) Statue of Liberty ( 2 ) Stephen Mandel ( 9 ) Stock Analysis ( 84 ) Stock Investments ( 4 ) Stock Portfolio Updates ( 6 ) stocks ( 3 ) summer ( 2 ) tax ( 7 ) TaxAct ( 3 ) TaxCut ( 1 ) Teacher's Editions ( 5 ) Technology ( 5 ) Test Prep ( 11 ) Thailand ( 3 ) Thekkady ( 2 ) theme park ( 2 ) Third Point ( 10 ) Thomas Gayner ( 40 ) Thyra Zerhusen ( 29 ) Tiger Cub ( 34 ) Tiger Global ( 17 ) Tiger Management ( 13 ) Time Square ( 2 ) TOEFL ( 1 ) TPG-Axon ( 20 ) Travel ( 278 ) Travel Reviews ( 82 ) Trian Fund Holdings ( 9 ) trip report ( 21 ) TurboTax ( 3 ) Tweedy Browne ( 10 ) Vacations ( 28 ) value investing ( 25 ) ValueAct ( 9 ) ValueAct Holdings ( 6 ) Vancouver ( 2 ) Video ( 3 ) Viking Global ( 10 ) Wallace Weitz ( 14 ) Warren Buffett ( 32 ) Wayanad ( 4 ) Weitz Investment Management ( 13 ) wilbur ross ( 17 ) William Von Mueffling ( 12 ) Wintergreen Advisors ( 15 ) Yacktman Asset Management ( 10 ) Yale Endowment ( 17 ) Yale University ( 7 ) Yamaha ( 7 ) YDP ( 1 ) YPG ( 1 )