About Stamps History of Philately Stamp Collecting History of Ukrainian Postage Stamps Postage stamps and postal history of Russia Stamps Terminology

Aerogramme. A specially printed lightweight sheet of paper with gummed flaps cut in such a way it can be folded into an envelope shape and sent at a reduced postage rate compared to air letters.

AirPost Sticker. A small sticker used on letters to show that the letter is being sent by Air Post International (air mail) to an overseas address.

Backstamp. A receiving or transit mark applied to the back of an envelope when mail is received at a post office or being transferred to another bag of mail for onward dispatch.

Barcode Block. A name given to a number of stamps (normally two) joined together and attached to a section of the selvage area of the sheet that contains a barcode. (A machine-readable arrangement of numbers and parallel lines which can be electronically scanned at the point of sale to register the price of the product and record the sale.)

Blind Perforation. A perforation which is not punched out because of a blunt or missing perforating pin.

Block. A name given to a number of stamps joined together. See Corner Block, Imprint Block, Plate Block and Value Block.

Booklet. A stamp booklet is a credit cardt-sized book of stamps which can contain one or more small sheets or 'panes' of stamps. The stamps in these booklets are usually the ones that are most commonly used.

Booklet Pane Booklet Pane. This refers to the strip of stamps inside a booklet cover.

Cachet. A design or description that is printed, embossed or hand stamped onto an envelope or card. It explains the reasons for special mailings such as exhibitions, pack horse mail, new airmail routes etc.

Cancellation. Also known as a date stamp or a postmark, a cancellation is the impression appended by postal administrations worldwide to indicate that a stamp has been used for postal purposes and cannot be reused. (See also: Commemorative Cancellation, Duplex Cancellation, Fiscal Cancellation, Handstamp, Manuscript Cancellation, Penmark Cancellation, Paquebot Cancellation, Relief Cancellation, Roller Cancellation, Ship Cancellation, Slogan Cancellation.

Cancelled To Order (CTO). Stamps which have not been used to send letters but have been cancelled by the postal authority for sale to stamp dealers and collectors.

Charity Stamps. Stamps sold with some of the cost going to charity. Health stamps are Charity Stamps.

Cinderellas. Stamps and stickers that have not been made for postal use. Examples of some Cinderella stamps are Easter seals, Pigeongram stamps, etc.

Coil Stamps. Made from sheets of stamps divided horizontally and joined together by the selvage into a long strip, or coil.These were coils of stamps that were used in stamp dispensing machines outside post offices. After several experiments in 1905 and 1906 to determine the best method of separation from the machine, ordinary sheets of stamps were split and joined together. This method of production continued till 1978 when the machines were phased out.

Comb Perforation. Called a comb perforation because the perforating pins look like a comb. A long row of pins with shorter rows at right angles perforate the tops and sides of one or more rows at the same time. Stamps perforated with a comb perforator have four identical corners.

Commemorative Cancellation. A special cancellation produced to mark a special event.

Commemorative Stamp. These stamps are usually on sale for a limited time only. They are issued to commemorate a person, achievement, event or anniversary.

Compound Perforations. Where the stamp has different perforation sizes on it. If a perforation is described as 11 x 14; the first figure refers to the horizontal and the second figure refers to the vertical side of the stamp.

Corner Block Corner Block. A block of stamps in a corner of a sheet of stamps.

Counter Coils. Were made up as coin coils but with the selvage join showing upwards on which a number was stamped or printed, for accounting purposes. These coils were for use at post office counters where there was a large demand for certain values. Such coils were first issued in 1947. They ceased in 1975.

Culler Facer Cancellor. Machines in mail centres that automatically cull out oversized letters then turn all remaining mail to face up the same way up, then cancel the postage stamps.

Date Stamp. The stamp or machine used to cancel stamps. Also, the impression made by the cancellation or cancelling machine.

Definitive Stamp. A stamp that is sold for everyday use over a long time period, unlike charity or commemorative issues which are usually only sold for a short time.

Demonetised. The official invalidation of any stamp issue so that the stamps are no longer valid for postage purposes.

Denomination. The postage value as printed on a stamp.

Die. The name used for the piece of metal or other material usually carved by hand, which was covered with ink and against which paper was pressed when the stamps were being printed. These days, the die has been replaced by a plate.

Die Proof . The very first stamp or stamps printed from the die as a test to see what the stamp will look like.

Double Cancellation - See Duplex Cancellation

Double Perforation. Two lines of perforations close together, that can be caused by a sheet of stamps accidentally going through a perforating machine twice.

Duplex Cancellation. Duplex Cancellation is a date stamp showing the name of the post office at which the cancellation was carried out as well as a numeral obliterator (also called Double Cancellation).

Embossed. A stamp which has its design or part of it raised from its surface. The indices of some postal stationery and vignettes of some early stamps were embossed.

Embossing. Used mainly on postal stationery, this procedure involves the paper being distorted by pressure between matched (male and female) dies.

Engraving. Stamp designs are usually engraved on, or carved out of, steel or other materials. The design is either cut into the metal (recess) or the background is carved away, leaving the design itself standing out (raised or letterpress).

Express Delivery. An especially fast delivery that is done when the sender pays an extra fee.

NEXT PAGE