ABBREVIATIONS

We want to thank Joe Malloy for the pages below. He must have spent 100 of hours on it...

AVE   Average 
AVE/F Average/Fine
cert  certificate
F     Fine 
F/VF  Fine/Very Fine  
H     Hinge
HR    Hinge Remaining 
LP    Line Pair 
LT    Light
LHR   Light Hinge Remaining 
M     Mint (unused)
NG    No Gum  
NH    Never Hinged 
OG    Original Gum 
Perf  Perforation 
PR    Pair 
PSE   Professional Stamp Experts, Inc       
SF    Space Filler 
U     Used 
VF    Very Fine 
VF/XF Very Fine/Extremely Fine 
VLH   Very Light Hinge  
XF    Extremely Fine 



 

STAMP COLLECTING TERMS

A

Adhesive: gummed stamp for mailing Aerophilately: collecting air mail stamps and covers Approvals: stamps sent by a dealer for you to examine then you buy the ones you want and return the rest A B N C: American Bank Note Company ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF RECEIPT STAMP: A stamp issued to pay the fee for notification by the post office that the mail piece has been delivered to the addressee. ACCESSORIES: The "tools" used by stamp collectors such as stamp tongs (tweezers), watermark detectors, hinges, stamp mounts, perforation guage, etc. ACID FREE PAPER: A paper manufactured under neutral conditions with a pH greater than 7.0 containing no acidic additives. ADHESIVE: A paper postage stamp with gum on the back intended to be glued on letters, packages, documents, etc. ADVERTISING COVER: A cover that has advertising of a commercial product, hotel, building, etc. ADVERTISING LABEL: Label used to make up a full booklet pane advertising a commodity or service. A E F: American Expeditionary Forces established in World War I and used in terms such as AEF Mail, AEF Post Offices and AEF Booklets. AEROGRAMME: Air letter sheet with imprinted stamp indicium for international air mail. AEROPHILATELY: Branch of collecting that deals with air mail stamps and covers and their usage. A F D C S: American First Day Cover Society. AGING: An artificial test to determine the relative permanence of paper. AIR LABEL: Labels inscribed "Par Avion" or equivalent that means "by air." AIR MAIL FLIGHT COVERS: Covers carried by air and postmarked at point of origin, departure or intermediate points on the route. AIR MAIL STAMP: A stamp intended to prepay air mail postage. AIRPORT DEDICATION COVER: A cover commemorating the opening of an airport. ALTERATION: An attempt to change the identifying characteristics of a stamp by the addition or removal of design or perforation or by changing the characteristics of the paper. ALUM: Aluminum sulfate, an acid salt used to retain rosin sizing in paper. Alum is acidic when dissolved in water and is the primary source of acid in paper. A M G: Allied Military Government. A P: American Philatelist, publication of the American Philatelic Society. A P O: Army Post Office used by U.S. military personnel stationed overseas. A PRESS: Five-color gravure and three-color intaglio combination press used by the BEP. APPROVALS: A selection of stamps or covers sent to a collector for examination. Approvals must be bought or returned to the sender within the time specified. A P S: American Philatelic Society. ARCHIVAL PAPER: A paper manufactured to provide resistance to the effects of natural aging. ARROW BLOCK: A block of four or more stamps with a printed thin arrow in the margin used as a guide for registering colors or perforating. ARROWS: Arrow-shaped markings used in margins of stamp sheets as guide t0 color registration or perforating. A S D A: American Stamp Dealers Association AS IS: A term meaning that the material is sold without a guarantee of any kind. A T A: American Topical Association ATTACHED CACHET: A separate piece that is attached to the cover in some fashion as a cachet. AUCTION: A public sale at which stamps or covers are sold to the highest bidder Bidding is done in person or by mail This is an excellent means of selling or buying material. AUCTION ABBREVIATIONS: Terms frequently used in auctions: star=mint; circle with dot=used; box with X=cover: square=piece or part of cover; four small squares=block. AUCTIONEER: The person who conducts a sale and receives the bids. AUXILIARY MARKINGS: A broad range of markings that require action on the part of the mailer, Addressee or both. For example, a letter that must be forwarded to a new address or a notice on a cover asking for postage due. AVG.: Average. Term used to denote condition of a stamp, generally the lowest collectible grade.

B

BACK OF THE BOOK (BOB): This refers to a variety of items listed in the back of specialized stamp catalogs such as postage dues, revenues, postal saving stamps, etc. BACKSTAMP: Postmark applied to back of incoming mail to show date and time of receipt at the receiving post office. BANK MIXTURE: Assortment of stamps, usually on paper, collected from the incoming mail of financial institutions. BANKNOTE ISSUES: Stamps printed by the American, Continental and National Bank Note Companies during the period 1870-1887. BAR CODE: Pattern of straight lines of varying heights and thickness that permits electronic equipment to read the address. BARRED: Stamps overprinted with black bars or rules to deface the design. BEN FRANKLIN STAMP CLUBS: Stamps clubs of elementary school children sponsored by the U.S. Postal Service. B E P: Bureau of Engraving and Printing, Washington, D.C., where all U.S. currency and almost all U.S. postage stamps have been produced since 1894. BICENTENNIAL: The celebration of a two hundredth anniversary. During 1976, America celebrated its 200th birthday with many stamps issued. BICOLOR: A stamp printed or otherwise produced in two colors. BICYCLE POSTS: Postal service operated by means of bicycle delivery. BILINGUAL: Two languages on the same stamp. BILINGUAL PAIRS: A pair of stamps on which the inscription is in one language on one of the stamps, and in BISECT: A stamp cut in half which has been used to pay the postage at half the face value of the original stamp. The bisect is collected on the original cover with the postmark or cancellation covering the cut. BK: Booklet. Scott catalog number prefix to identify stamps other than standard postage. BKLT: Booklet BLEACHED: Use of a chemical agent to lighten or remove a discoloration or foreign substance from a stamp. BLEEDING: Color that runs when immersed in water. Also printing of design 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, but considered as cut. BLOCK: An unseparated group of stamps at least two high and two wide. If the block is larger than four stamps, it is referred to as a block of six, block of eight, etc. BLOCK TAGGED: Tagging applied on a stamp in a rectangle that does not touch the perforations. B O B: Back of the Book material, listed in back of the catalogs. BOARD OF GOVERNORS: Governing body of the U.S. Postal Service; includes nine governors who are appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate. The nine then elect a Postmaster General, who becomes a member of the Board. Those ten elect a Deputy PMG who also serves on the Board. They review the policies and practices of the Postal Service. BOARDWALK MARGINS: Stamps with wide margins. Also referred to as Jumbo Stamps. BOOKLET: A stamp booklet contains one or more panes of stamps. BOOKLET PANE: A uncut block of stamps especially printed and cut for use in booklets. The booklets are a convenient way to carry stamps. BORDER: The frame or edge of a stamp design. BOURSE: A market place, such as a stamp show, where stamps are bought, sold or exchanged. BULL'S EYE CANCELLATION: A postmark in which the City, State and dates have been placed directly on the center of a stamp or block of stamps. BUREAU PRECANCELS: Stamps that are precanceled at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing at Washington, D.C. BUYER'S PREMIUM: Auction term for percentage charged to buyer.

C

CACHET: A rubber stamp or printed impression on an envelope which describes the event for which the envelope was mailed. Cachets are used for first days of issue, first flights, naval events, stamp exhibitions, etc. CANCEL: Defacing a stamp to prevent its reuse. CANCEL TO ORDER (CTO): Stamps cancelled by postal authorities without having been used for postage. They are less desirable than stamps which have seen postal duty. CANCELLATION: A mark placed on a stamp by a postal authority to deface the stamp and prevent its reuse. CANTON STAMPS: Switzerland Canton issues before the release of national postage stamps. CAPE TRIANGLES: Cape of Good Hope triangle stamps. CAPPED NUMERALS: Flaws looking like caps on top of the figure "2" on the U.S. 2c Washington issue of 1890-3. C A R: Central African Republic. CE: Air Post Special Delivery. Scott catalog number prefix to identify stamps other than standard postage. CENSORED MAIL: A cover with a hand-stamp or label indicating that the contents have been opened and censored. CENTERING: 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 stamp from the intersection where the vertical and horizontal guide lines cross of the sheet of stamps. On early U.S. issues, the center block is considered the most valuable block on a sheet of stamps. CERTIFICATE: When issued by an acknowledged group of experts, it gives credence to the authenticity and condition of a stamp. CERTIFIED MAIL: Mail for which a receipt is given to the sender. CHRISTMAS SEALS: Charity labels used to raise funds for various groups. CHRISTMAS STAMPS: Special postage stamps issued for use on mail during the holiday season. CINDERELLA: A stamp-like label produced by a non-governmental body. CIRCUIT BOOK: Book with stamps or covers offered for sale. CITIZENS STAMP ADVISORY COMMITTEE (CSAC): A group of citizens appointed by the U.S. Postmaster General to review the more than 40,000 suggestions for stamp Subjects that the USPS receives each year. COATED PAPER: Paper with a slick enameled surface. COIL LINE PAIR: Pair of stamps showing a colored line caused by a gap where the curved printing plate is joined. COILS: Stamps which are produced in roll form for use in vending, stamp affixing, or dispensing machines. A coil usually contains 100, 500 or more stamps of a single denomination and design. COMM: Commerative COMMEMORATIVE STAMP: Stamps issued to honor some person, anniversary or historical event. CORK CANCELS: Cancelers made from corks. CORNER BLOCKS: A block of stamps taken out of the corner of a sheet or pane and identified by the paper margin on two adjacent sides of the block. COUNTERFEIT: An imitation or forgery of a genuine postage stamp or postal marking that has been created to defraud the collector or government. COVER: A postally used envelope or one that has been cancelled as a souvenir. CPL: Complete CROSSHATCHING: A combination of various lines used to provide a background for design. C T O: Cancelled-to-Order. CUT SQUARE: Imperforate stamps cut from postal stationery with the corners of the original paper left intact. CV: Catalog value CYLINDER NUMBER: Plate number of a Andreotti or A Press printing cylinder.

D

DATED: A U.S. precancelled stamp that includes a date in the precancellation. DECIMAL DENOMINATION: A stamp whose value includes a fraction of a cent. DEF: Definitive DEFECTIVE STAMP: A stamp with one or more major faults such as a piece of the stamp is missing or a hole. DEFINITIVE: A word used to distinguish a normal, everyday issue of stamps. DENOMINATION: The postage money value appearing on a stamp, as 5 cents, 2 Bolivars, etc. DIE: A block of metal that has been hand or machine engraved from which plates are prepared to print stamps. DIE PROOFS: A print or impression made with a die to show what a stamp design will look like. DISNEY STAMP: Stamps issued by several nations with a Walt Disney movie theme. DOUBLE IMPRESSION: Two impressions of the design of a stamp. DUCK STAMPS: U.S. Bird Hunting Permit stamps. DULL GUM: Dry matte finish gum. DUPLICATES: Extra copies of stamps that are already in the collection. They should be examined carefully for variations of color, watermark and perforation.

E

EARLIEST KNOWN USE: Term applied to earliest date on which a stamp is recorded to have been used. EMBOSSED: Stamps, usually envelope stamps, that are raised in low relief in relationship to the surface of the paper on which they are printed. ENGRAVED STAMPS: Stamps printed from plates into which a design is cut or chemically etched. The plate is applied under heavy pressure to the paper being printed, leaving the ink raised above the surface of the paper. ENGRAVER'S INITIALS: The initials of the engraver which may appear in the sheet margin or in smaller letters below the bottom frame line of a stamp design. ENGRAVER'S PROOFS: Proofs taken from an engraving to give an idea of how a stamp design will look when completed. ENTIRE: A complete envelope or postal card with stamp, postmark, address, etc. as originally received. ENVELOPE CUT SQUARE: The stamp portion of a stamped envelope that has been cut from the envelope in a square or rectangular shape. ERROR: A stamp that has something wrong in the design or in its production. This can be in the perforations, color or printing. An error in a stamp usually makes it more valuable. ESSAY: Rejected and unused stamp design.

F

F: term meaning "Fine" quality. FACER CANCELER: Postal equipment that "faces" the envelope to be read easily and then cancels the item. FACE VALUE: The monetary value of a postage stamp as printed in its design. FADING: A lightening of ink or paper due to natural physical causes. FAKE: A genuine stamp altered as to color, design, value, etc. to increase its monetary value,. FAULT: Missing piece, tear, clipped perforation, hole, scuff, thin spot, crease, toning, oxidation, stain, short perforation, etc. on a stamp. F D C: First Day Cover. . FIRST CLASS MAIL: A class of mail including letters, postcards and postal cards with all matter sealed or otherwise closed against inspection. FIRST DAY COVER: A newly issued stamp affixed to an envelope and postmarked on the first day of sale at a city designated by the Postal Service. FIRST DAY OF ISSUE: The day on which a stamp is first placed on sale. FIRST FLIGHT COVER: An envelope bearing a cancellation and usually having a special descriptive cachet affixed which has been at the point of origin and carried on a first flight opening a new air mail route. FIVE-DIGIT PRESORT: Bulk mail presorted to five Zip Code digits and bundled. FLAT PLATE: A stamp printed on a flat bed press. This process is slower than the rotary press method of printing from curved plates. FLAW: A blemish in the stamp design that occurred during manufacture and may be considered a variety. FLUGPOST: German for air mail. FLUORESCENT: An optical brightener that emits a distinctive, intense glow when viewed with either a long or short wave ultra-violet light. Fluorescent tubes in fixtures can emit damaging quantities of UV light that can discolor stamps and covers. FLUORESCENT INK: Ink that glows brightly when its luminescent ingredients are activated by ultraviolet light, and which ceases to glow when the light is extinguished. FOIL STAMPS: Stamps printed on paper with a facing of metal foil. FORGERY: Imitation of a stamp made to defraud the Postal Service and/or collectors. FORMAT: General physical characteristics of a stamp such as size, shape, dimensions, etc. FOURTH CLASS MAIL: Includes domestic parcel post, bound printed matter and films weighing up to 70 pounds with a combined length and girth of 108" or less. F P O: Fleet Post Office postmark used for America's servicemen attached to the U.S. Navy. On a British cover, it means Field Post Office. FRAME: The outer printed border of a design on a stamp. FREAK: An irregularity in a stamp such as color shifts, streaks, smears, double print, etc. FREE MAIL: Mail transmitted free of charge due to natural disasters, franking privilege, and troops on active

G

G: Auction term for "good" condition. GLAZED GUM: Original gum in altered state due to its softening and reforming while in a plastic mount. G P O: General Post Office. GRAVURE: Also known as photogravure. GRILL: An impression or embossing made on a stamp in order to break the paper fibers so that the ink from the cancel will soak into the stamp paper and make washing for reuse impossible. GUM: The coating of glue on the reverse of an unused or mint postage stamp. GUTTER: The blank space between the panes of a sheet of stamps. Gutters can be found on many of the "Farley's Follies" stamp issue of 1935. GUTTER PAIRS: Two stamps with the selvage or gutter remaining between the pair.

H

H: Acknowledgment of Receipt: Scott catalog number prefix to identify stamps other than standard postage. HAND CANCEL: Cancellation applied by hand. HANDSTAMPED: Postmarked or canceled by hand, usually by a rubber stamp, may also be a steel device. HATCHING: Close, fine lines for shading a stamp design. HINGES: Small pieces of gummed glassine or parchment paper used by collectors for mounting stamps on album pages. HOLOGRAM: Multi-dimensional image. H R: Hinge remnant

I

IMPERFORATE (IMPERF.): Stamps without separating holes. They are usually separated by scissors and are collected in pairs. IMPRINT BLOCK: A block of stamps taken from a portion of the sheet where the printer's name or imprint is located on the margin. INDIA PAPER: A strong paper that is soft, thin and silk-like usually used for proof impressions. INDICIA: Stamped impression of the denomination indicating prepayment of postage. INSURANCE STAMPS: Stamps issued for use by a government's life insurance department. INSURED LETTER STAMPS: Stamps issued to pay the insurance fee on a letter. INTAGLIO: Any type of printing in which the inked image is below the surface of the plate. INTELPOST: Electronic facsimile system for transmission of documents used by postal administrations. INTERLEAVES: Translucent tissue placed between the pages of an album to prevent stamps from rubbing against each other. INTERNAL REVENUE: The revenue tax collected within the country. INVERT: Usually a multicolored stamp in which one of the colors or the design has been printed upside down. For example, the 24 cents air mail issue of 1918 in which the airplane, printed in blue, is upside down. INVERTED CENTER: Stamp in which the central design is upside down in relation to the frame of the stamp. INVERTED JENNY: U.S. 1918 24-cent air mail error. I R C: International Reply Coupon is the Universal Postal Union method to provide postage for correspondents in other countries. I W Y: Inernational Women's Year

J

J: Postage Due. Scott catalog number prefix to identify stamps other than standard postage. JOINT ISSUE: Two or more countries issuing and releasing a stamp or set of stamps with a similar design on the same day. JUMBO STAMPS: Stamps with wide margins. Also referred to as Boardwalk Margins. JURY: Judges at a stamp show.

K

KILLER: Any obliterating postmark that will render re-use of a stamp impossible. KILLER BARS: Horizontal lines which are typically used to cancel a stamp. KILOWARE: Term used by dealers or countries to sell mixtures of stamps on paper. A kilo is approximately 2 1/3 pounds.

L

LABEL: Any stamp-like adhesive that is not a postage or revenue stamp. LAST DAY CANCELLATION: The last day of use of a postmark or the last day cancel of a post office which is LETTER SHEET: Postal stationery with a preprinted stamp or postage amount which is then folded and sealed to resemble a standard envelope. light. LINE BLOCK: A block of stamps with either a horizontal or vertical printed line running between the rows of stamps. This line forms the guides for color registry, perforating or cutting of the full press run sheets. . LINE PAIR: A pair of stamps with a vertical printed line running between two stamps. LINE PERFORATION: Perforation of a sheet stamp one line at a time in each direction. LOCAL POST: Service performed by a non-official body and used to carry mail within a certain area. LOCAL PRECANCEL: Stamp overprinted locally with name of city and state. LOCALS: Stamps issued by governments or private posts for use in restricted areas. LOOSE LETTER: Mail arriving in port without any cancel or mark of origin. LOT: Auction term for an item offered for sale with a number assigned by the auction firm. LOVE STAMPS: A special issue U.S. stamp used primarily for greetings. L P: Line pair L R: Lower Right position for plate number blocks. LUMINESCENCE: A coating applied to stamps that emits a glow when viewed with an ultraviolet lamp.

M

MACHINE POSTMARKS: Cancel applied by a machine vs handstamp and comprises slogan and plain version. MACHINS: British stamps with a design based on a plaster cast profile of Queen Elizabeth II done by Arnold Machin. MARGIN: The portion of unprinted paper that surrounds a stamp or a pane of stamps. MARGINAL INSCRIPTIONS: Printing that appears in margin of a pane. MARGINAL RULE: Line in margins around British and commonwealth stamps. Also known as Jubilee Line. MAXIMUM CARD: A post card that has an illustration, stamp and cancel all with a common theme. M D: Minor defects METER CANCELLATION: A postage fee and cancel applied by a machine to a piece of mail. MICHEL: German language world-wide stamp catalog. MILITARY POSTAL HISTORY: Date stamps and censorship markings of military post offices. MILITARY STAMPS: Stamps issued for use by a country's military personnel. MINIATURE SHEET: A single stamp or block of stamps with a paper margin on all sides bearing some special wording or design. Some were issued for stamp exhibitions in the U.S. MINOR VARIETIES: A slight variation in color, a break in the line of the design, or a speck on the stamp can be considered a "minor" variety. MINT: A stamp as issued by the government printing office with full gum, unhinged and uncanceled. MISPERFORATION: Perforations within the design instead of the margins. MISSION MIXTURE: An assortment of low quality stamps on paper sold by the pound and usually collected by a charitable mission or institution. MIXTURE: A mixture of stamps, usually on original envelope clippings, containing duplicates. May contain varieties of shades, perforations and minor varieties. M N H: Mint, never hinged MOUNTS: Stamp hinges or cellulose acetate strips used to encase stamps for album mounting. M P O: Mobile Post Office is a vehicular post office that can serve as a temporary postal station. stationery was so ridiculed that it had a very short life. MULTIPLE: A unseparated group of stamps that is less than the full sheet, but more than two. MYLAR: DuPont registered trade name for polyethylene terephthalate film that is colorless, transparent, strong and chemically stable.

N

NET: Term used when buying stamps. No deductions or discounts of any kind are allowed when this word appears. NEUTRAL: Having a pH of 7.0, neither acidic or alkaline. NEVER HINGED: Stamp with original gum in post office condition. NEW ISSUE: The latest issue of stamps to come from a country. NEWSPAPER STAMP: Stamp issued to prepay postage on printed matter, periodicals and newspapers. N H: Term meaning that the stamp has Never been Hinged and has the original gum. NINE-DIGIT ZIP CODE: Numerical sequence sorted to the individual route or carrier. NIXIE: Piece of mail that is undeliverable. NONDENOMINATED STAMP: Stamp without a value issued during period of a rae change. NONPROFIT MAIL: Reduced-rate, third class bulk mail for specially qualified groups.

O

OBSOLETE: Stamps that are no longer sold by the postal service. OCCUPATION STAMPS: Stamps issued for use in enemy territories by the conquerors. ODDITIES: Stamps that have design errors, gum varieties, shade differences, etc. OFF CENTER: A stamp design that is not printed in the exact center of the paper. OFFICIAL REPRINT: Stamps reprinted at a later date by the original issuing entity from the original plates. OFFICIAL SEAL: A label, in stamp form, issued by the Post Office to seal mail and parcel post that has opened in transit or that may have been opened for postal inspection of contents. OFFICIAL STAMPS: A government agency postage stamp. OFF PAPER: Stamps that have been soaked off the paper. OFFSET: Reverse impression from the face of a sheet of stamps onto the back of another sheet. OFFSET LITHOGRAPHY: This printing process consists of transferring an image from an aluminum or zinc plate to a rubber blanket. The image is then transferred from the rubber blanket to the paper running through the machine. O G: Term for Original Gum as applied when the stamp was printed. O H M S: On His/Her Majesty's Service. OL: Local official. Scott catalog number prefix to identify stamps other than standard postage. OMNIBUS ISSUE: A common theme used on the stamps of several different countries. ON COVER: Stamps that are on the original envelope and may also be "tied" (postmark on stamp and cover tying the two together) to cover. ON PAPER: Stamps that still have paper portions of the original envelope or wrapper stuck to them. ON PIECE: A stamp attached to the original portion of the envelope or wrapper with enough of the cancel showing to ensure authenticity. OPT or OVPT: Overprint OPTICAL CHARACTER READER (OCR): Mail-processing machine that "reads" an address and translates it into a sprayed on bar code. OPTIFORMA PRESS: Six-color Goebel press used by the BEP. ORANGEBURG COIL: Issued January 24, 1911, in Orangeburg, NY, for the Bell Pharmaceutical Co. ORIGINAL: A stamp from the first issue and not a reprint or later issue. ORIGINAL GUM: Gum which is in the original state as applied by the printer and appears untouched by a hinge. OVER (or UNDER) INKING: Stamps that have been received with more or less of one or more of the colors to complete the design. OVERPRINT: An additional printing on a stamp that was not part of the original design. For example, the Molly Pitcher U.S. stamp of 1928. OX: U.S. Post Office Official Seals. Scott catalog number prefix to identify stamps other than standard postage. OXIDIZED: Term applied to a stamp that has been darkened from sulphurization or oxidation with age. OY: New Zealand Life Insurance. Scott catalog number prefix to identify stamps other than standard postage.

P

P: Auction term for Poor quality. PAID MARKINGS: Usually the word "PAID" indicating regular postage has been prepaid by the sender. PAIR: Two stamps that have not been separated. P A L: Parcel air lift PANE: Stamps as sold by the Post Office. Usually a commemorative pane consists of 50 stamps. Four panes of 50 stamps make up a "sheet" of stamps as printed. . PAR AVION: "By Air Mail" in French. PARCEL POST: Stamp issued to prepay parcel post fees. PART ORIGINAL GUM: A stamp with noticeable gum missing. P B: Plate block PENALTY: Term applied to stamps and stationery for use on official correspondence with warning "Penalty for private use $300." PEN CANCELLATION: A cancellation marking on a stamp that has been applied with a pen and ink. PENNY BLACK: The world's first adhesive postage stamp issued in Great Britain on May 6,1840. PERF: Abbreviation for perforated or perforations. PERFINS: Private or official perforated initials or designs punched into stamps to prevent misuse of stamps. These PERFORATION GUAGE: An instrument designed to measure the number of perf. holes or teeth within a two centimeter space. PERFORATIONS: Lines of small holes placed around stamps to provide an easier means of separation. PHILATELIC: (Fil-a-tel-ic) The adjective for philately. PHILATELIC AGENCY: Firm maintained by a government which sells stamps to collectors. Some may also aid in the design and production of these stamps. PHILATELIC COVER: A cover specifically made to be a collectible item. PHILATELIST: A student of stamp collecting. PHILATELY: Taken from the Greek "philos," loving + "ateleia," exemption from (further) tax, taken as equivalent of "postage paid"; the collection and study of postage stamps, postmarks, stamped envelopes, etc. PHOSPHOR: A chemical printed on stamps in order to help automated machines process the mail by reacting to the phosphor under ultraviolet lights. It started in Great Britain in 1959, and many countries now use a phosphor "tagging" on their stamps. PHOSPHORESCENCE: The property of a luminescent material, after being activated by exposure to ultraviolet light, to continue to glow for a period of time after the UV light has been extinguished. PHOTOGRAVURE: A printing process where the design is photographed on the printing plate through a fine screen which breaks the copy up into very fine dots which are square in shape. The depressions formed around the squares hold the ink. PICTORIAL CANCEL: Cancellation with unique design elements. PICTORIALS: Stamps that bear illustrations of any decorative theme such as landscapes, works of art, flowers, etc. that are different than portraits or symbols. PLATE: A flat piece of metal (usually copper, zinc or steel) on which an image has been photoengraved, hand engraved or etched. The stamps are then printed from this object. PLATE NUMBER: The file number engraved on a plate which usually appears in a corner of a sheet of stamps. This number is used to keep the plates from getting mixed up at the printing plant. PLATE NUMBER BLOCK: A block of stamps with the sheet margin attached showing the plate number used in printing that sheet. Also known as Plate Block. PLATE NUMBER COIL: U.S. coil stamps produced since 1981 with a plate number appearing at the bottom of the stamp at certain intervals. P M: Postmaster, postmistress P M G: Abbreviation for Postmaster General. PMK: Postmark . P N C: A cover with a coin and a related stamp is known as a Philatelic Numismatic Combination. Also Plate Number Coil. POSITION PLATE BLOCK: Four plate blocks with the exact same plate number in four positions. POSTAGE: Charge for transporting mail. POSTAGE DUE: A stamp issued to collect unpaid postage. POSTAL CANCELLATION: A postmark that shows that the stamp has been used for postal purposes and not revenue use. POSTAL MARKINGS: Markings or manuscript applied by machine or hand on a item. POSTAL STATIONERY: Envelopes, air letter sheets, postal cards, etc. that have imprinted or embossed stamps. POSTALLY USED: Stamps used for postage purposes. POSTMARK: Any marking applied to a letter or parcel indicating the name of the post office and date of mailing. PRECANCEL: Special cancel applied to stamps before being affixed to mail matter. In the U.S., there are two categories of precancels: 1: Bureau, where the precancel is applied by the BEP, 2: Local, where the precancel is applied by the local city or town post office. used to inspect for defects, or to see which ink color looks best for that particular stamp. PVI: Postal validation imprint

Q

QUADRILLE: An album page ruled in faint squares as guides for making a variety of layout arrangements with stamps or covers. postage.

R

RAILROAD CANCEL: Postmark applied to mail in a railway mail car. signed region, but are valid for postage throughout the country. REGISTERED MAIL: Mail with a numbered receipt that is signed by each postal employee as it is handled during processing. REGUMMED: Stamp with artificial gum applied. REISSUE: An official reprinting of a stamp that was discontinued. REPERFORATED: Stamp that has been perforated anew to defraud the collector. REPLY POSTCARDS: Two postcards joined together, one for original message and other for reply. REVENUE STAMP: Stamps issued to pay various types of internal revenue taxes as documentary, proprietary, etc. Revenue stamps are also called "Fiscals." postage.. RURAL FREE DELIVERY (RFD): Begun in 1896, brought daily mail delivery to residents living outside urban areas.

S

S A E: Stamped, addressed envelope SAFETY PAPER: A type of paper that has been prepared to make stamps hard to forge. A common form of safety paper has silk threads in it. SALES CIRCUIT: Booklet of stamps offered for sale usually through stamp groups. SAMPLE: An overprint used on stamps instead of specimen. SAND DUNE COUNTRIES: Nickname for desert sheikdoms that issue stamps. SELF-ADHESIVE: Rubber-based adhesive on back that does not have to be moistened to adhere to paper. SELVAGE: The unprinted paper on the edge or margin of a sheet of stamps. SE-TENANT: Two or more unseparated stamps having different colors, denominations, or designs. Se-tenant is French for "joined together." SHEET: One full impression of stamps taken from a printing plate. A typical sheet of commemorative stamps is four panes each of 50 stamps. This is then cut into four panes of stamps for sale at the post office. SHEET WATERMARK: A large watermark with only a portion showing on a stamp. SHIP CANCELLATION: A postmark applied to mail on board a ship. SILKOTE: Paper that is whiter tha usual stamp paper with a surface texture that is extraordinarily smooth. Used for the U.S. 2-cent Liberty experimental printing of 1954. SILK PAPER: Stamp paper containing small pieces of colored silk in the paper mixture. SOAKING: The process where stamps are removed from the paper on which they were affixed. "SOCKED-ON-THE-NOSE": A stamp with the postmark in the center of the stamp. SOUVENIR CARD: A card, not valid for postage, issued in conjunction with a stamp exhibition or some other special occasion. SOUVENIR PAGE: An 8½ x 11 sheet bearing one or more of the stamp described and cancelled with the first day of issue postmark. SOUVENIR SHEET: Sheets of a stamp or stamps, surrounded with a paper margin issued for a specific event or purpose. . SPACE COVER: A cover commemorating an event that is related to a space or astro event. SPACE FILLER: A poor copy of a stamp used to fill the space in an album until a better example is found. SPECIAL DELIVERY STAMPS: Stamps issued for the immediate delivery of mail at the receiving post office. SPECIAL HANDLING STAMPS: A stamp for expediting fourth class mail by the U.S. Post Office. SPECIAL ISSUE STAMP: Stamp printed for a particular mailing requirement as Christmas or the Love stamp. SPLICE: A strip of perforated translucent paper pasted over the junction of two rotary press printings. known as a "spliced pair." STAMPLESS COVER: This term is usually applied to envelopes that went through the mails before the use of adhesive stamps were mandatory.

T

TAGGING: The phosphor coating on a stamp for use by automated mail handling equipment. THIN: Removal of paper fibers from the back of a stamp. three sides, as issued by the Post Office. THIRD CLASS MAIL: Includes circulars and printed matter, booklets, catalogs with each piece weighing less than 16 ounces. TONGS: A "tool" used to handle stamps that looks like a tweezer but has a round or spade tip. TONING: Discoloration on envelopes or stamps caused by exposure to light, heat, humidity, air or a combination of factors. TOPICALS: Collecting of stamps by the topic on the stamps, such as space, animals, sports, etc. TWO-CENT REDS: Term used to describe US commemoratives issued between 1927 and 1932.

U

ULTRAVIOLET (UV): Lamp that gives off two different wave lengths-Shortwave and Longwave. Shortwave UV light will highlight phosphor tagging, either in the printing ink or the coating on a stamp. Longwave UV light will spot fluorescence in the paper of a stamp or cover. UNGUMMED: Stamps without any gum as issued. UNHINGED: Stamps without any traces of hinge marks. UNIVERSAL POSTAL UNION (UPU): Organized in Berne, Switzerland in 1874 to regulate and standardize international postal usages and rates. to help separate the stamps such as the Confederate issues and private vending machine coils. UNUSED: A stamp in mint condition as purchased from the post office. Also can mean a stamp that has no gum or is regummed. UPSIDE DOWN JENNY: The 1918 24-cent U. S. airmail with upside down Jenny aircraft. U S P O D: United States Post Office Department, official branch of the government for delivering the mail until 1971, when it became the USPS. U S P S: United States Postal Service. Established by the Postal Reorganization Act of July 1, 1971 as an independent, self-supporting federal agency within the Executive Branch. USED: A stamp that has been "used" to pay postage, bears a cancellation or defacing mark.

V

VARIETY: A difference from the standard form of the stamp such as a color variation or minor flaws, etc. V F: Term for "Very Fine" condition of a stamp. V G: Very good VIGNETTE: Term for the picture or other main area of a stamp. V L H: Very lightly hinged V-MAIL: Special forms and envelopes used by U.S. forces during WW II.

W

WALLPAPER: Unnecessary postal issues from countries which are considered to have little or no philatelic or monetary value. WANT LIST: A listing, given to a stamp dealer, of stamps that are needed or wanted by the collector. WATERMARK: A design, letter or word impressed in the paper during the manufacture of the paper. This mark found on a stamp is very helpful for identification purposes. WATERMARK DETECTOR: A black tray of glass or enameled metal in which a special fluid is placed on top of the stamp to reveal the watermark. WATER SOLUBLE INK: Ink on a stamp that dissolves when immersed in water. WMK: Watermark WMMH: Great Britain Wales & Monmouthshire Machin. Scott catalog usage to identify stamps other than standard

X

X F: Extra fine

Y

hELP ME FIND SOMETHING TO PUT UNDER Y

Z

Z GRILL: Two copies exist of the US 1867 1-cent blue Z grill. ZEPPELIN STAMPS (ZEPS): Stamps issued for use in conjunction with the flights of the Graf Zeppelin and other rigid airships. Covers carried on these ships are called "Zeppelin Covers." ZIP: A cartoon character looking like a postman printed on the margins of U.S. stamps and bopklet panes since 1963. The man is referred to as Mr. Zip and is used to encourage people to use the Zone Improvement Plan code. ZIP+4: Addition of four digits to the basic Zip Code for sorting by carrier route and specific addresses. ZIP+4 PRESORT: Bulk mail presorted to the nine-digit Zip Code and bundled. ZIP BLOCK: A margin block of U.S. stamps bearing the inscription "Use Correct Zip Code" in the salvage.
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