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A
A Press
A printing press at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing. The press, capable of producing up to eight colors (five-color gravure and three-color intaglio), has produced a number of single-color definitives in the Transportation coil and Great Americans series, as well as a number of commemoratives and airmails, such as the 36-cent Igor Sikorsky. The A Press, actually designated press 702, was obtained by the BEP in 1973.
During the time the early line-engraved Queen Victoria issues were being produced in Great Britain, it was standard practice to produce six preliminary sheets for each new plate. One of these sheets was kept for archiving purposes, and the remaining ones were frequently processed, perforated, and released. Many such issues differed from the normally released ones in color, watermark, paper, or even perforations. Because the quantities of these "abnormal" stamps were so limited, they were immediately considered highly collectible rarities.
Any type of supply that aids a collector in his or her hobby. This can include hinges, mounts, albums, magnifying glasses, tongs, and scores of other items.
Acknowledgement of Receipt Stamp
A stamp used to pay the additional fee required by some countries for return-receipt service. In some countries, such as the United States, this fee is paid with regular postage stamps.
Any stamp-like item that is affixed to a letter or document to represent payment of postage or duties. Adhesives can range from Penny Black to city or local revenue stamps and all categories in between. Postal stationery, such as stamped envelopes, postal cards, and revenue stamped paper are not considered adhesives because the stamps are printed on, rather that affixed. Adhesive also refers to the gum or other mucilage used to affix the stamp itself.
A derivative of "ads on." Refers specifically to the 1893 stamps of New Zealand that were printed with various advertisements on their backs. These ads promoted a number of products, from the relatively unknown to Cadbury Chocolates and other well-known brands.
Adstamps
This was a short-lived United States innovation in the mid 1980s, where stamps were affixed to an advertising collar that could then be affixed to the envelope. Some samples were used for publicity purposes, but their use was quickly discontinued.
Ornate, printed advertising surrounding the area of an envelope intended for the placement of postage. These collars, most commonly collected on full covers, provided the advertiser with a handy way to peddle his goods. In many cases, the advertisement visually agreed with whatever postage stamp was current. Despite the widespread use of advertising collars, the practice was short-lived and eventually prohibited by postal regulations. The idea refused to die, however, and has been dredged up several times during the past century.
A cover prepared by a commercial source, such as a retail business or manufacturer, that includes advertising copy or illustrations promoting a product. The most desirable covers are those that are elaborately illustrated (especially in color), and those that represent some industries (such as gun making) that have captured the fancy of collectors or have strong topical appeal.
Advertisements on Stamps
A theory that advertising may be placed on the gum side of a stamp to get the message to postal users (a concept that has never really worked). The concept was tried on the 1/2-pence Great Britain stamps of 1887 and the 1-pence stamps of 1881. The backs were overprinted "Pear's Soap," over the gum, but their postal use was never allowed. They do exist in collector hands and are prized.
The idea of including advertisements in postmarks is almost as old as stamps themselves, but the actual practice has been slower in catching on; however, it is this concept that allowed slogan cancels, which are used all over the world, to flourish. In 1963, the British Post Office launched a program where resorts could promote their benefits in cancellations for a fee. Many resorts took advantage of the program, and numerous resort cancels exist. During the early 1900s, the British Post Office began using jet-sprayed advertising postmarks to promote everything from Kit-Kat candy bars to movies and theatrical productions.
Official Universal Postal Union name for airmail lettersheets created for international use. Such lettersheets are made from lightweight paper to minimize bulk, and they frequently enjoy reduced postal rates. They are known to have been used as early as 1933 (in Iran), but their widespread use came during and after World War II. Aerograms may be pre stamped or have adhesive stamps added and are not permitted to have enclosures.
Aerophilately
The collection and study of items related to all phases of airmail, from the stamps themselves to covers and studies of rates and routes.
A type of automation that allows mailers to have stamps placed on envelopes by machine. Forms of these machines date back to the 1850s, but they did not become standard equipment until the early 20th century. Stamps affixed by machines often feature clipped or damaged perforations but are desirable on cover to show the use.
Agency
There are two philatelic meanings to this term. The first is a reference to a postal agency of one country's post office, operated in the territory of another, by special arrangement. The Morocco Agency of Great Britain (complete with overprinted stamps) is just one of many different examples. The second, and probably more commonly known, type of agency is the representative of one country's post office in another. Examples of this type of agency include Unicover, Inter-post and Inter-Governmental Philatelic Corporation, each of which handles the stamps of other countries at face value.
See Etiquette
Any and all postal matter carried by air, and stamps or posted stationery inscribed to prepay such service. The 1859 Jupiter balloon flight marked the first government-sponsored airmail, which continued with the 1870 Siege of Paris balloon mail. The first actual airmail wasn't carried by powered aircraft, however, until about 1908. Regular airmail flights in the United States did not begin until 1918. For modern collecting purposes, the term airmail narrows somewhat to designated airmail, because most modern mail travels by air routinely, with no special designation.
An uninked stamp, one from which all colors are omitted. An albino stamp may have a blind, intaglio plate impression embossed on its surface, which may permit identification of the stamp. A blank stamp results when all colors are omitted from a stamp printed by lithography or photogravure, and no intaglio blind impression occurs. For stamps printed by methods other than embossing or line-engraved intaglio, it is almost impossible to know a stamp is a true albino without a colored stamp attached to it. Albino stamps occur as a result of foreign matter adhering to the stamp paper, foldovers, or two pieces of paper traveling through the press a once (the bottom piece becomes the albino). Albino stamps are generally quite rare and are very desirable to collectors.
Embossed postal stationery with colorless stamps. Although albino envelopes are technically color-omitted errors, they are generally considered freaks. They are created when two or more pieces of stamped enveloped paper travel through the press at once. The top piece accepts both the embossing and the color, while the bottom piece receives only the embossing. The resulting ghost design can range in intensity from bold to nearly unrecognizable.
Describes any of dozens of ways to house a collection. Most collectors consider albums to be commercially printed pages (with printed spots for stamps), housed in a special binder and supplemented as necessary. Popular lines of albums in this country include Minkus, Harris, and Scott. A stamp album may also consist of a number of homemade pages ranging from blank paper to those containing intricate drawings or specialized descriptions of the stamps they include. The first stamp album created for collectors was published in France by a man named Lallier in 1862.
A fake, forgery, or fantasy. The term was coined during the late 19th century to refer to what was considered a flood of undesirable items. It was popularized by the Rev. R.B. Earee, who published a series of eight books on the subject in 1906, Album Weeds. The books were derived from a series of articles begun in 1871. Earee's work is still considered an essential reference in this collecting area.
Describes any of a number of different types of plastic, paper, and glassine envelopes used to enclose damaged mail for delivery. For many years, most damaged envelopes were simply rubber-stamped with the notation that items were damaged in mail handling, in most cases with the specific cause (such as fire or depredation). In rare cases of extreme damage, such envelopes were enclosed in larger envelopes and so marked By the mid 1980s, the United States Postal Service and other postal entities began using specially printed bags and envelopes to enclose such mail. Most of these modern-day ambulance bags carry a generic description of damage, rather than a specific auxiliary marking.
An Italian-made press at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, acquired in 1970 to produce stamps by photogravure. The seven-color web fed press has been used as the workhorse press for the majority of all U.S. multicolored commemorative stamps since that time; it has also produced some aerogramme's. It is officially designated by the BEP as Press 601.
Printing inks derived from coal tar. Aniline inks were designed to be brightly colored for their day and are water-soluble. This made aniline inks desirable to stamp-issuing authorities, because attempts to remove cancels though rubbing or soaking would damage the stamps. Most stamps printed with aniline inks fluoresce under long wave ultra-violet, which aids as an identification tool.
Selections of stamps sent out to collectors to examine for a few days and purchase what they wish, returning the balance with payment for stamps kept. Although most approvals accompany some form of introductory gift requested by a collector, some companies send out unsolicited, or un requested, approvals. This practice is not only considered improper, but postal regulations allow recipients to keep unsolicited approval material without being liable for payment. For requested approvals, however, 10 days is the standard examination period. Many companies specialize in approval selections.
A form of rouletting where the slit is formed in a semi-circle. The paper is cut, not removed, in making an arc roulette.
Stamps bearing the various coats of arms of heraldic designs of different political entities as the central part of the stamp design.
A special adhesive known to collectors of U.S. stamps, which was released in 1898 and purported to be an actual stamp created by the War Department. The label was really privately produced and was never valid for postage. The design, which comes in four colors, closely resembles that of the 10-cent 1869 and bears the legend "Official Business Only."
A post office for Army units. Even overseas military unites receive and send mail through the United States Postal Service mail system. Each APO has its own cancel, identified by a special number.
Arrow Block A multiple of stamps, frequently a block of 4 or six stamps, with an attached margin that contains the arrow-shaped marking and line used to align pane separators and perforators. These arrow blocks are considered premium position pieces.
Stamps formatted for sale by automated teller machines (ATM's) now in use by many U.S. banks and financial institutions. To be suitable for sale through ATM's, self-adhesive ATM stamps and their backing sheets must conform precisely to the length, width, and thickness of the U.S. currency notes that these machines dispense. The first U.S. ATM stamps were stylized 25-cent Flag stamps printed on plastic film, used during a six-month test period in 1990 at 22 ATM machines operated by the First National Bank in the Seattle, WA, area.
A public sale in which stamps are sold to the highest bidder present. Most stamp auctions feature an auction catalog in which lots are described and illustrated. Although held with live bidders, most public stamp auctions depend upon mail and phone bidding as well.
An experimental postage program operated by the United States Postal Service in 1989-90. Autopost postage machines (a total of six) were capable of weighing items, calculating postage, and dispensing a thermal-printed self-adhesive stamp that could be used any time from any location. The experiment was called off after the temperamental machines received little use from anyone other than collectors. Two machines were located in Washington, D.C., two in Kensington, MD, and two temporary machines were set up in the Universal Postal Union Convention headquarters during the World Stamp Expo in late 1989. Today, all Autopost items are fairly scarce, but the special UPU items (identified by machine number) are rare and costly. The most commonly encountered Autopost items are mint sets of first-day-dated Autopost stamps from the Washington and Kensington machine numbers.
Computer-printed and vended variable-denomination postage labels produced in a small number of experimental self-service mail stations.The stamps include four small stars around a large computer-printed "USA" and a vertical fluorescent orange bar at the left edge of the label.
Any additional marking added to a cover other than the postmark. In most cases, auxiliary markings describe a delay in mail service, including fires, crashes, or simple delays. The most common auxiliary marking is the pointing finger "Return to Sender" marking.
Average relates more to centering than to overall condition of a stamp. A stamp that is described as average is typically off center and has perforations that touch the design. Average imperforates will have at least one side cut so the design touches the cut. Average-centered stamps usually sell for significantly less that catalog value.
Perhaps the earliest form of cancellation machine, this model was designed by J. G. Azemar, who introduced it in 1869 in England. The marking consisted of seven horizontal bars, with a central diamond bearing a letter and number. The machines' use was discontinued in 1873. There is evidence to suggest the machine was actually invented in Hamburg, Germany, by a man named Wilhelm Ree.
B
This all-intaglio printing press, acquired by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing in 1973 (and began use in 1976), was capable of producing three-color intaglio stamps. It was the workhorse for most of the Transportation coil and Great Americans series stamps. The press was officially designated as Press 701.
The name given to the early key type (1889-1900) used in Spain and its colonies, featuring a portrait of a young King Alphonso XIII.
Applies specifically to the 50-cent United States airmail stamp released for the 1933 Chicago World's Fair, which pictures the Graf Zeppelin (Minkus #A19, Scott #C18). Because the stamp is not part of the Graf Zeppelin set released in 1930, but does picture the dirigible and is a similar-sized stamp, it received the fondly given name Baby Zepp.
Back-of-the-Book
The term given to all stamps that appear in stamp catalog listings beyond those of general issues. This area includes, but is not limited to airmails, postage dues, revenues, postal stationary, late fee, registry, Christmas seals, locals, newspaper stamps and semi-postal's. Scott and Krause-Minkus catalogs list regular & commemorative issues in the front of their catalogs and the back-of-the-book issues are the special function stamps that follow, including airmails, postage due stamps, official stamps and many others.
Backprint
Refers to any type of printing or type that appears on the backside of a stamp. This can include everything from advertising, such as can be found on early stamps of New Zealand, to the printing on the back of U.S. Duck stamps. Backprint also is one of several unofficial terms used to describe some of the stamps that have been printed on the backs of other previously printed material, such as unfinished banknotes and maps. In 1919-29, the backs of unfinished sheets of banknotes were used for the production of postage stamps to save paper in Latvia. As a result, the backs of individual stamps show parts of engraved designs intended for currency.
A postmark applied to the back of an envelope. The primary purpose of a backstamp is to document the date, time, and receiving location of a specific mail piece. The practice of backstamping is still occasionally encountered but was officially abandoned in the United States early in the 20th century.
On-paper mixture supposedly collected from the incoming mail of various banks and financial institutions. By their nature, bank mixtures tend to contain large numbers of definitive or regular issues, but can also contain the odd high-value stamp as well. If advertised as a worldwide bank mixture, such items can contain a wide variety of worldwide stamps.
In 1919-21, Latvia used the reverse side of old, unfinished currency and maps to print its stamps. Thus, the back sides of these stamps show partial bank notes.
Describes versions of regular-size miniature stamps from different countries, particularly the war-effort and war tax stamps of South Africa.
An encrypted series of long and short vertical lines (essentially using the binary system), applied to envelopes by an ink-jet printer to allow high-speed computerized machinery to read a five-, nine-, or 11-digit ZIP code. Such markings also may be printed on the envelopes by private mailers.
A printed form of defacement sometimes used as a way to change a stamp's denomination or design. In some cases, stamps that are remaindered are defaced with bar markings before being sold to stamp dealers. In other cases, bar markings are used to obliterate an old denomination or unwanted design element prior to overprinting stamps with the new information.
Battleship revenues are two series of documentary and proprietary revenue stamps released in 1898, during the Spanish-American War. The name comes from the stamp design that pictures the Maine, which was sunk in Havana Harbor and kicked off the war.
A type of paper upon which stamps have been occasionally printed. Battone resembles laid paper, except the lines are further apart and there are crossing lines as well at regular intervals.
A complicated group of special-purpose stamps released between 1866 and 1951. These stamps were affixed to kegs and barrels of beer and, later, fermented malt liquor. Like many revenue stamps affixed to items, instead of paper, damaged copies are the rule rather than the exception.
A form of solvent used for many years by collectors to view the watermarks on stamps; however, benzine is extremely flammable, its fumes are harmful, and it damages certain types of stamps (such as those printed by photogravure).
Stamps released to celebrate the 200th anniversary of an event. The most well known of these is the extensive series of stamps released by numerous countries during the United States' 1976 bicentennial celebration. Bicolor Refers to a stamp printed in two colors.
Bicycle Mail
Any mail carried or delivered by bicycle. The most well-known bicycle mail was carried by Arthur C. Banta in 1894, during the San Francisco mail strike. Special adhesives were issued for the service as well, and these stamps (and covers) are quite rare and desirable. Lesser-known bicycle mail also was carried in Australia, which was established to transport mail between Kalgoorlie and the nearby gold mines.
Single stamps bearing the inscriptions of more than one language, such as those of Canada (English and French).
An un separated pair of stamps inscribed in two languages. The best known of these are the numerous issues of South Africa and Southwest Africa, where the languages are English and Afrikaans.
Bisect
A stamp that has been cut in half horizontally, vertically, or diagonally to pay a rate for which no stamp is available, usually through a shortage of stamps at the post office. Both halves of bisected stamps are used. For example, a 10-cent stamp may be bisected to create two 5-cent stamps. Such items are created out of need and often are scarce. Due to their nature, however, bisects are considered valid only when tied by cancel to a cover or piece representing the proper rate. Bisects are no longer legal in the United States, although they are occasionally done as novelties, usually by collectors. Bishop Mark Describes the earliest postmark, devised by Englishman Henry Bishop, considered to be the first Restoration Postmaster General. These markings indicated the day and month a mail piece was received at a post office. Although it is not known exactly when Bishop introduced this revolutionary marking, the earliest-known examples date from May 1661. Bishop was well aware of the importance of his marking. He wrote: "A stamp is invented that is putt upon ever letter shewing the day of the month that every letter comes to the office, so that no Letter Carryer may dare detayne a letter from post to post; which before was unusual." Bit In the papermaking process, a bit is the small piece of wire or metal on the dandy roll that creates the watermark. The term also refers to a currency unit of the Danish West Indies from 1855-1917. Black Blot One of several forms of universally failed attempts at philatelic censorship. The name Black Blot, which is now used generically, has been used several times. The motive behind such programs is pure, but the effort itself is fundamentally flawed. The Black Blot program, most recently attempted by the APS during the 1960s and '70s, identified stamp issues and countries felt to be speculative or bogus in nature. The goal was to then shun these stamp issues to keep collectors from "throwing away" their money; however, if the program were ever successful, such black-blotted issues would become scarce and, later, costly and desirable. If the effort fails, these programs do little more than to publicize the very issues they wish to squelch. Blackjack
A form of postal marking used in Canada during World War II as a security measure. Affected machine cancel town marks had the town name removed to conceal mailing locations, particularly for post offices with military personnel near either coast.
Example of a "Blackjack"
Blanket Currently refers to the rubber surface upon which an offset image is transferred from the printing plate prior to being applied to the stamp paper. Bleute A French term related to the bluish paper found on early British issues.Blind Perfs A freak in which perforation holes are not completely punched through the stamp paper. This condition ranges from partially penetrated holes to cases in which there is no visible evidence of perforations other than perf pin indentations on the front or back. In some cases, blind perfs may affect only one or two holes on a stamp, but in more severe cases, blind perfs can give the impression of a completely imperforate or imperforate-between error. Blind perfs are not to be confused with missing perf errors, in which absolutely no traces of the perforation process are present. Stamps with blind perfs are collected by those who specialize in errors, freaks, and oddities and sell for significantly less than true imperforate errors. Block
A multiple of four or more un separated stamps that forms a square or rectangle. Unless the size of a block is specifically indicated the term applies to a block of four. Blocks are collected in plain, with no selvage, or with various marginal markings or imprints. These are usually referred to by name, such as plate or inscription blocks. Although the preference is for clean, even (symmetrical) blocks, odd numbered or ragged blocks are collected for scarce classical material.
Example of a "Block" of four stamps
Block Tagging A form of phosphorescent tagging, also known as block-over-vignette. Block tagging involves the application of individual squares of taggant over the stamp design area done to protect perforating and processing equipment from the abrasive nature of taggant material.Bluish Paper In 1909, the Bureau of Engraving and Printing experimented with paper containing 35 percent rag stock instead of all wood pulp. Several stamp, including the 1909 Lincoln commemorative and several values of the Washington-Franklin series, were printed on this paper. The resulting appearance of the stamps is a pale bluish color. All bluish paper stamps are scarce and should be expertised before purchasing. Boardwalk Margins Term used to explain the abnormally large-sized margins that appear on some stamps. Named after the old style of wide sidewalk, boardwalk margins are created unintentionally by wide settings of perforation. Boating Stamps Boating stamps were used during the early 1960s on applications for the certificate number of 10-horsepower and larger motorboats. BOB The often-confusing abbreviation for back-of-the-book, which includes everything from airmails to revenues (all material usually physically listed in the back of stamp catalogs, beyond the postage listings). Bogus Describes stamp-like items from real or imagined countries, usually created by those who hope to sell them to unwary collectors as genuine postal issues. Such stamps can bear a very close resemblance to real issues, whereas others are pure fantasy. In some cases, bogus values have been added to legitimate sets of postage stamps. Booklet Stamps bound or folded within stiff covers, giving the appearance for which it is named. Small panes of stamps sewn, stapled or glued between relatively stiff, thick covers (or increasingly with recent self-adhesive stamps, on tough backing paper that may be folded into a booklet when the stamps are purchased). Stamp booklets were devised as a convenience to stamp users for easy parrying of stamps. In 1895, Luxembourg became the first country to release stamp booklets by breaking sheets down into individual panes and forming them into booklets. Other countries, including the United States in 1900, soon followed suit. Over the years, booklets have taken many forms, ranging from stapled panes to the aforementioned foldable self-adhesive booklets. Booklet covers typically enclose one or more booklet panes, which may or may not have non-postal labels se-tenant with the stamps. Older booklets may also have paper or glassine interleaving, or protective pages, with or without text, between each booklet pane of stamps. In most cases, each booklet pane is attached to the booklet by a binding stub at one edge of the pane. Such stubs may be stapled, attached with their own adhesive or bound by other means. A booklet carefully dismantled and displayed to show all of its parts - the covers, the panes, the interleaving, and the binding, if any is called an exploded booklet. Most booklets contain more than one small pane of stamps. Booklet Number Singles Until recently, plate numbers on U.S. booklet stamps could be collected only on the binding stub. But in early 1997, beginning with the Yellow Rose, the USPS began releasing some booklets with plate numbers printing on the stamp itself. This makes those stamps design-different and collectible. In the case of the Yellow Rose, the number singles are distinguishable between 15- and 30-stamp booklets by virtue of their straight edges.
Booklet Pane
A single page, or pane of stamps from a complete booklet of stamps. Panes may be collected separately from booklets. Such panes are said to be from an exploded booklet. Depending upon how they are produced, booklet panes may have staple holes or folds and many may be found either or without binding stubs. Panes missing binding stubs generally are worth far less than those with stubs. On earlier issues, particularly from the United States, plate numbers are found only on certain positions from the printing sheet and command a premium over standard value.
Example of a "Booklet Pane"
A letter carried outside the official mail stream. Sometimes, especially in early postal history, this would happen for many reasons. If a friend was going to another country, for example, it might be cheaper to have your friend take your letter and put it into the mail when he reached his destination. The cover would be datelined with the country of origin but would have the domestic postage of the country that received it into the mail. Therefore, it would be written from Russia in 1850 but have a 3-cent United States stamp for postage and have a New York CDS.
Border
The outer printed edge of a stamp or pane design. A border may be as simple as a frame line surrounding the inner design or as complex as ornately engine-turned engraving.
Bourse
Any organized meeting of stamp dealers or collectors where stamps are bought and sold. Bourses may be part of a stamp exhibition, where collections are competitively shown, or they may be independently held.
A postmark printed with a frame surrounding the text. Boxed postmarks may be single-, double-, or triple-lined, have one or more lines of text, and be extremely ornate or very plain.
See Perfins.
Bridge
The paper between perforation holes that holds a multiple of two or more stamps together.
Broken Set
Any group of stamps from an issued set that is missing one or more values. A broken set, when advertised as such, usually means that all inexpensive stamps from the set are present, but not the scarce or expensive ones.
Buggy Whip
A popular plate variety found on the 4.9-cent Buckboard stamp of the United States Transportation coil series. The variety is a plate crack caused by the grippers that held the curved plate onto the press. When the plate cracked, it did so extending from the seat of the Buckboard upward. As a result, ink gathered in the crack and printed out on the finished stamps. The name refers to the appearance of the crack, which resembles a buggy whip. Because the crack is a constant plate variety, all stamps from that plate in that position show the crack.
Bulk Mail
Type of mail commonly referred to as "junk mail." Bulk mail is sorted, bundled, and processed at various levels by the mailer in exchange for reduced postage rates. The classification encompasses numerous forms, including several mail classes, different levels of presorting, and non-profit status. Although all bulk mailers receive discounted postage rates, they earn those discounts. Many of these different rates are represented by fractional-denomination postage stamps. Many collectors save bulk mail stamps and study the postal history connected with them.
Bull's Eye
Also known as socked-on-the-nose. Refers to canceled stamps with the circular portion of a hand stamps or machine cancel nearly perfectly centered on the design area of the stamp itself. Bull's-eye cancels may be collected by date, type, town and many other ways. Many collectors of bull's-eye canceled stamps form calendar collections with a stamp for each day of the year. The term also applies to early issues of Brazil that somewhat resemble a bull's eye.
A stamp with the entire circular-dated portion of the cancel appearing in the design area. The date of the cancel of such an item is the first-day release date of the stamp. The collecting of Bull's-Eye first-day canceled stamps is a specialty.
Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP)
The BEP is a branch of the Unites States Treasury Department and has been the primary printed of U.S. Stamps since 1894. During most of those years, the BEP was the only printer, but contract printers began taking work from the bureau as early as the 1970s, escalating throughout the 1980s and 1990.
Bureau Precancel
As it relates to stamps of the United States, this type has been precanceled at the source by the stamp printer, usually the Bureau of Engraving and Printing. These are set off primarily because the cancellation has been applied by one of the color stations on the stamp printing press. The superior quality of the printing usually distinguishes bureau precancels from local precancels.
Burelage
A fine regular pattern of lines, dots, or other graphics printed on the face or the back of a stamp as a security device to help discourage cancellation removal or counterfeiting. If the burelage is printed on the back of a stamp, it is usually done before gumming, but if it is on the face, it usually is applied before printing and appears under the printed stamp design.
Burr
A raised bit of metal on a die or plate, a burr can be caused by an engraving tool or by damage to a printing plate. If a burr is not properly removed from the plate before printing, it can become visible as a constant plate variety.
A type postmark used on the first issues of Victoria. The marking shows a double, concave line on two sides (resembling a butterfly's wings), a post office number forming the letter head, and the letter "V" forming the tail. These cancels are highly prized by specialists.
C Press
A three-color, web fed intaglio press utilized by the BEP (obtained in 1982) to print numerous definitive issues of the 1980s and 1990s. The press was officially designated as Press 901.
Cachet
A design on an envelope, most frequently a first-day cover. Although they are primarily illustrative in nature, cachets can be completely composed of text. The term is also less frequently applied to any illustration on a commercial cover, including advertising that is increasingly important to the value of the cover. In fact, cachets created by certain artists, individuals or companies frequently sell for may time the value of standard FDCs. Cachets may be applied in any number of ways, including by rubber stamp, printing, drawing or painting. A cachet can even be a special label or photograph created for an event or issue.
Stamps that have been canceled without having served postal duty. This is frequently done by postal agencies with their remainders, before selling them to stamp dealers for the packet trade. Some countries that rely heavily on stamp collector income order a certain number of canceled-to-order stamps along with the standard print run. CTOs may appear with hand, machine, or printed cancels, and the cancels frequently have a rather uniform appearance. Most CTO stamps are worth considerably less than their postally used counterparts, but many catalogs list used values based on CTO, rather than postally used stamps. Many CTO stamps have full gum, even though they are canceled. Despite their low esteem through the hobby, CTOs provide collectors with inexpensive, highly collectible stamps in generally excellent condition.
Cancellation
Any form of stamp defacement applied to prevent revenue loss through illegal reuse of stamps. Although cancellations are most commonly encountered as ink obliterations, they also can be holes, cuts, tears or even laser burns. While any for of cancellation is legitimate, collectors deem some forms highly desirable (such as fancy cancels) and others undesirable (such as ballpoint pen), which can have a vast influence of the value of a used stamp.
A very volatile and dangerous fluid that was marketed for many years to stamp collectors as a watermark fluid. Although it was effective for viewing watermarks and detecting repairs, the hazards outweighed the benefits. All use of this hazardous material was halted in the late 1960s after its use was connected to cancer.
Carrier Stamps
Stamps (and similar markings) used in the United States from 1842-60 to pay the delivery fee on items from the receiving office to the recipient, or from one address to another within the same delivery area. At that time, postage stamps paid fees only from one post office to another. Two basic types of carrier stamps exist: official and semi-official. Official carrier stamps were produced by the government, while semi-officials were privately produced but sanctioned by the local postmaster. After the discontinuance of carrier fees June 30, 1863, all letter carriers were government employees. The United States is one of few countries to ever have used carrier stamps.
Catalog
A priced list of stamps, covers or other philatelic material. Although there are only a few dominant catalogs, many different types exist, each an important reference for stamp collectors. A catalog may be as simple as a small price list or as elaborate as a multi-volume set of books.
Catalog Number
The identifying assigned to any individual stamp or set by the catalog publisher. The numbers may be either strictly numerical or alphanumeric, a combination of letters and numbers.
Catalog Value
A value placed upon a stamp by catalog publishers. The values may reflect the true market value of a stamp or be a more general price guide. In most cases, a minimum catalog value is assigned to common stamps of little real value to represent the cost of time involved to individually price and stock common stamps for sale to collectors.
Abbreviation for the circular date stamp.
Censored
Any cover or mail that has been opened, read, and altered to conform politically or informationally. Most censored covers are created during wartime to stem the flow of vital information. Censored covers generally feature a marking or special tape, or both, applied by officials opening the mail.
Released to mark the 100th anniversary of an event or the 100th birth anniversary of an individual.
Refers to the placement of the stamp design in relation to the perforations or edges of a stamp. The more perfect the centering (and the larger the margins), the higher the stamp's grade. The more off center the design, the lower the grade to the stamp. Centering plays a very important role in valuing stamps. Many catalogs value stamps in fine to very fine centering - the condition in which most stamps are encountered by collectors. Other catalogs value stamps in very fine condition, a higher quality and less frequently encountered centering, which is worth more. Stamps with nearly perfect centering (superb) frequently sell for multiples of catalog value, while those that are quite off-center (but not misperforated) sell for far less than catalog value. Although centering alone plays a large role in determining the value of a stamp, it does not take into consideration any faults a stamp may have; therefore an undesirable damaged stamp may have superb centering, but may be worth a small fraction of its catalog value.
Unit of measurement in the metric system, where 100 centimeters (2.54 to the inch) equal one meter. In stamp collecting, perforation measurements rely on how many perforation holes are contained in a 2-centimeter area. Thus a stamp that gauges 10.5, for example, would have 10-1/2 perforation holes in a 2-centimeter length.
Ceremony Program
See First-Day Ceremony Program.
Certified Mail
A first-class mail service for which the sender receives a receipt certifying that an item has been mailed. If desired, and for an additional fee, the sender may also receive a return receipt, signed by the recipient. Although there is no compensation for loss, certified mail does provide proof that an item was mailed. In the United States, the service has been available since 1955, but only one stamp has been released specifically to pay the fee. Covers bearing certified markings and the appropriate postage are prized by postal history collectors.
The technical term given to the little bits of paper punched out during the perforating process.
Chalky (or coated) Paper
A special form of security paper, true chalky paper has a layer of chalk on its surface upon which the stamp image is printed. The surface not only makes for a clean stamp image, but any fraudulent attempt to remove the cancellation from a chalky stamp (including soaking) results in the removal of the chalk layer, including the stamp design.
Several British countries released postage stamps bearing the famous portrait of Queen Victoria painted by Alfred Edward Chalon in 1837. The first stamp to utilize this portrait was the 12-pence Canada stamp released in 1851. Stamps with this portrait are frequently referred to as Chalons.
Chameleon Paper
A special form of security paper utilized to prevent illegal reuse of revenue stamps on documents. One of the components of chameleon paper is pigmentation that changes with attempts to remove the cancellation.
Another term for a semipostal stamp. A semipostal is a postage stamp that is sold by the post office at an amount higher than face value, with a portion of the proceeds going to a designated charity. Most semipostals express their face value additively, as in "45pf + 15pf," indicating a 60-pfennig stamp of which 45pf pays postage and the remaining 15pf is a contribution to a designated charity.
Check Letters
Letters positioned in the corners of many British stamps to indicate the location of a stamp in the original sheet. Check letters were used to help prevent the forgery of stamps. As they affect collectors, check letters, combined with printed plate numbers, help to fully identify stamps and their positions in the original sheet. The letter in the upper-left corner identified what vertical column contained the stamp, while the letter in the upper-right corner indicated the horizontal row. Thus, a stamp with letters "C" and "Q" would indicate the stamp from the third vertical column, and the seventeenth horizontal row.
Chewing Gum Booklet
A somewhat tongue-in-cheek moniker given to some small booklets of stamps produced by Canada from 1943-53. These tiny booklets, about the dimensions of a stick of chewing gum, contain panes of three stamps each, with natural straight edges at the top and boom (and on the right side of the end stamp). Because of their odd appearance, stamps from these booklet panes are often mistakenly put aside by collectors and dealers as coil stamps. Chewing gum booklets were initially created during World War II to conserve resources and to fit into quarter vending machines.
Chill Rollers
These are special rollers on some presses that help cool the web after the stamps have been printed, often to prepare the web for another step, such as tagging. These chill rollers occasionally pick up ink from the printed stamps and deposit it on others, creating what collectors refer to as chill roller doubling.
Chop
A marking consisting of Japanese or Chinese characters that have been overprinted, hand-stamped, handwritten, or otherwise applied to stamps and covers. Chops were used extensively in the territories occupied by the Japanese during World War II. Such markings were provisionally used to create occupation stamps until new stamps could be printed and distributed.
Christmas Seal
A non-postal label, created by various charities and sold or distributed (for a requested donation) to people for use on outgoing holiday mail. Seals may be found anywhere on an envelope, but are most desirable when positioned near a stamp and tied by a postal cancel. The first U.S. Christmas Seal was issued in 1907.
Chroma
The brightness of a color. A high-chroma color is very intense and pure, while a low-chroma color is very dull in appearance.
Chromed
The hardened state of modern printing sleeves. After the metal is hardened, a coating of chrome is applied to help the printing sleeve have a longer printing life. Chromed printing sleeves may be rechromed.
Cigarette Tube Stamps
These served as receipts for taxes paid on tubes of hollow cigarette paper sold to people who made their own cigarettes.
Cinderella
Any collectible stamp-like item that isn't a postage stamp. This area defined differently by many, can include revenue stamps, local post labels, Christmas and other charity seals, test labels, and a host of other items. Although some collectors specialize in cinderella material, many enjoy adding cinderella's to their existing topical or thematic collections or other specialized collections.
Circular Date Stamp (CDS)
The circular marking which feature the date and the name of a town. It can also have the country and the time as part of the CDS. In modern times, it can include an APO (Army Post Office) or FPO (Fleet Post Office) number.
Classic
Any stamp, postal stationary or other postage or revenue item that has gained a particular position of distinction among collectors. Most classics, however, are considered to be at least 100 years old. Such stamps have gained universal acceptance and popularity, due to their longevity. Although many classics are quite rare, not all stamps considered classics are expensive.
Cleaned
A canceled stamp that has had the cancel or other marking removed, usually to be fraudulently sold as an unused stamp.
Cliche
An individual stamp image on a printing plate. More specifically, the term applies to a cast block representing a partial plate, usually used in connection with letterpress printing. Coarse Perforations Refers to any stamp with large holes and perforation teeth far apart.
Coarse perforations
are found on stamps of many different countries, often combined with crude forms of perforation.
Coil Stamp
Coil stamps are those issues usually released in a long strip or roll format. Such stamps are generally created for use in automatic vending and affixing machines. Coil stamps are easily identified from sheet-stamp counterparts. United States coils posses straight edges on two opposite sides and perforations on the remaining two sides. Coil stamps of other countries, such as Great Britain, may be perforated on all sides, but may be identified by watermarks or other distinguishing features. Early coil stamps are usually collected in pairs as an identification and verification aid.
Coil Wrapper
The seal, label, or wrapper used by stamp printers to package or finish completed coil rolls. Although these items were intended to be removed from coil rolls and discarded, they have become a specialized colleting area, either as an adjunct to coil collecting or as part of a study of stamp printing and processing.
Collateral Material
Any literature, photographs, maps, or other material that is relevant to a specialized stamp collection or exhibit. In most cases, collateral material is not desirable in exhibits seeking awards, but it can be very helpful to the casual viewer or the researcher.
Collect
Half of one type of telegraph stamp that was affixed to and sent with a telegram. The copy kept in the office had a 'duplicate' stamp affixed. Both types were printed se-tenant on a single sheet.
College Stamps
Labels resembling postage stamps created for use in business colleges to teach mailing and mail handling practices. Such cinderella's are highly sought after and avidly collected. Another form of college stamp is a type of adhesive used to prepay fees for delivery of mail matter with their messenger services. The most well-known of these are Oxford and Cambridge Universities in England (1871-86). Use of these stamps was discontinued at the request of the British postmaster general.
Color Changeling
A stamp of which the colors have been altered or eliminated by physical or chemical tampering. Certain stamp dyes are susceptible to alteration, especially bleaching by sunlight, heat or chemicals. Color changelings do occur naturally, as in the case of sun bleaching, and they occur as a result of chemicals and other substances that have come into contact with stamps. Color changelings have little philatelic value, except as novelties.
Color Guide
A printed set of color swatches used by collectors to match stamp colors used to print stamps. Such guides are usually printed on coated paper, with currently available. A collector then matches the stamp against the swatches to identify shades. Un fortunately, because color is perceptual and different inks aged differently, there has never been a truly accurate color guide, nor is there likely to be one. Color guides can prove useful, however, to help collectors identify basic shades used on stamps.
A stamp in which one or more colors of ink have been completely omitted. To be considered a color-omitted error, 100% of the affected color or colors must be absent on a stamps.
Color Shift
Also known as misaligned or misregistered color; occurs when one or more of the plates used to print multi-colored stamps is out of register with the other colors, or when sheets ore fed incorrectly on one or more of multiple passes through the press. Color shifts make up a form of stamp printing freak possible only with multicolored stamps. Most multicolored are printed using variations of red, blue, yellow, and black. The combination of these hues and black forms the illusion of any color in the spectrum. To achieve this illusion, images must be separated by color and each is produced by a separate on-press printing plate, sleeve or cylinder. In some cases this involves separate press runs (which is how inverts sometimes occur). Generally, multicolored printing is accomplished with different color stations on a single press. When any one color (or more) becomes misregistered, a color shift occurs. Depending upon how major the shift, variations are created in the stamp's appearance; thus, a stamp may look only slightly blurry, individual elements of design may appear to be doubled, or, where the color shift is dramatic, some features may appear quite bizarre. This freak may occur on many stamps or only a few. Although these misregistered freaks are highly collectible, most do not sell at the price level of true errors, such as missing colors or inverts.
Color Smear
A broad category of freak items that includes any unintended color that appears on a stamp as a result of a printing fluke. Color smears may be very small and insignificant, affecting a single stamp or they may be very noticeable and affect a full pane.
Color Trials
Proofs of a stamp design, printed in different colors to select the final, most suitable, color of a stamp. Also known as trial color proofs.
Column
A vertical, single-stamp-width multiple of stamps from a sheet, pane, or booklet.
Comb Perforations
A type of perforation is named for its appearance. Comb perforations are repeating rows of one horizontal and numerous vertical rows of perforations resembling a comb. This pattern is repeated across the sheet, forming final conventional-looking perforations.
Combination Cover
In its classic sense, a combination cover is one in which stamps from two or more different countries or stamp-issuing entities combine to pay the postage. Such covers were not uncommon in the early years of stamped mail, when international postal treaties were inconsistent. Today, the term also is sometimes used to describe a cover franked with stamps of more than one issue of a single nation. Stamps of the United States and Canada were used to pay the postage to London on this combination cover.
Commemorative Panes
A pane of stamps in which paper around the stamps (the selvage) has text, illustrations and a header printed across the top or other information about the stamps and what they commemorate. Unlike older commemorative sets in which each value was printed on a separate pane, commemorative panes are printed with the stamps se-tenant.
Commemoratives
Stamps issued to honor an individual, institution or event; almost all are denominated at the basic U.S. first-class letter rate in use at the time of issue. The are printed from a relatively small number of plates and are usually sold until stocks are largely depleted, at which time they are taken off sale. Although commemoratives are generally larger than definitives, they cannot always be determined by their size or even subject matter. Several countries lay claim to having produced the first commemorative stamp. The United States produced a 15-cent black Lincoln stamp in 1866, which is considered by some to be a mourning or commemorative issue. The 1869 series, the United States first pictorials, are considered by many to b the commemoratives. Peru issued a stamp in 1871, marking the 20th anniversary of the railway in South America. The 1862, Laureated stamps of France, showing a portrait of Napoleon III with a laurel, that represented Napoleon's victories in Italy were released. Although France claimed at one time these stamps were commemoratives, they are definitive in nature. Other late 19th century issues have been heralded as the first commemoratives, but the credit us usually given to the 1869 series or the Peruvian stamp.
Commercial Cover
To postal history specialists, a commercial cover is far more desirable than one that originated philatelically. A commercial cover is one that traveled through the mail for business purposes, such as to carry a gas bill or subscription payment. Some stamps, however, such as those created for sale to collectors, are virtually impossible to obtain on commercial covers.
Complete Set
A group of stamps that includes all values from a series or all stamps from a defined issue.
This term describes stamps with sides that have more than one gauge of perforation. The cause of such stamps can be intentional or accidental. A stamp with compound perforations may measure, 11 x 10˝ or it may have three sides with one measurement and the fourth with a different type. Some triangular stamps are even know with three different gauges.
Computer-Vended Postage
Stamps sold by interactive vending machines, which allowed the user to select the desired denomination and print the stamp to order. Although some experimental types of U.S. computer-vended postage have come and gone, variable-denomination stamps with a red and blue shield motif printed by postage and mailing center machines produced by ECA GARD and Unisys were fairly successful, in limited use.
Condition
A postage stamp's overall state of being. For example, a stamp may be perfectly centered and feature a light cancel, but be in poor condition if it is torn or thinned. Generally, the description of a stamp's condition takes all factors including centering, cancellation, damage, color and others into consideration.
Condominium
An arcane term that describes stamps released by a territory that is governed by more than one entity. Such stamps may be bilingual, or they may be similar-looking stamps bearing the same denomination and separate country names.
Consummation (Papier de Grande Consummation)
A rather poor grade of granite paper used for French war-time stamp issues of 1917-20.
Constant
Although mat varieties are similar in definition to plate varieties, they affect only an overprint (the mat). Damage apparent on a mat will print consistently on stamps produced from it and will be consistent in appearance. If the sleeve size of an overprint mat is a different size than the printing plate of a stamp, the variety will appear in different positions on a sheet or coil, when gauged by sheet-counting standards.
Constant Plate Variety
A plate variety that is consistent through the printing of a stamp, from the time damage occurred to the plate until a stamp's press run is finished, or the damage is repaired. Some plate varieties become more pronounced with wear and tear on the plate. Because the damage is done to the printing plate itself, the resulting crack, gouge, or other marking will always appear on stamps printed in the same position from the same plate. If a stamp has been printed by line-engraved intaglio, plate varieties will appear as printed lines, cracks, or other shapes. If a stamp was produced by letterpress, plate damage appears in the form of un printed areas.
Those stamps affixed to various documents where consular officers of the United States showed payment of specific set fees for various duties connected with their offices.
Contingency Stamp
Control Mark
A letter, number, or symbol applied to a stamp or its selvage, usually for accounting purposes. The marking may be printed, hand-stamped, or even handwritten.
Controlled Mail
Many collectors use mail between each other as a form of controlled mail to obtain philatelic-quality used stamps that are difficult to obtain. Years ago, some large countries also participated in this practice, using high-denomination stamps and then selling the lightly canceled examples to stamp dealers, thus recouping some of their normal mailing costs.
A marking that appears on stamps applied by the end of a carved cork, an inexpensive form of cancellation device. Such cancellations were common the 1850s and 1860s. Some cork cancels are very basic, while others are intricate or fancy. Such cancels are prized by many collectors, may of whom collect these cancels.
Example of a "Cork Cancel"
A block of four or more stamps from the corner of a sheet or pane of stamps, complete with marginal selvage if it exists. Corner blocks may contain plate numbers, designer initials or other marginal inscriptions that make them more collectible that a standard block.
Corner Card
The printed return address of the sender in the top left corner of an envelope, also use to identify any envelope or item of stationery bearing such a marking. As with advertising covers, corner cards may be simple or highly elaborate.
Corrosion Stain
When moisture is left on a printing plate, it will begin to corrode the surface, as it would with any other form of metal. The corrosion leaves small water droplet-like impressions on the plate that retain ink when the plate is inked. The resulting marks print on the stamp paper itself. In most cases, corrosion stains are limited to the margin of a pane, but they are also known within the stamp area.
Cotton Reels
The common name given to the first issues of British Guiana in 1850. These blue, typeset, circular stamps received the nickname because of their similarity in appearance to the small labels applied to spools of cotton sewing thread.
Cottrell Press
From 1956 until the late 1980s, Cottrell Presses were the mainstay of postage stamp printing at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing. These presses were designed by the Huck Corporation and built by the Cottrell Co. (thus the name). Most stamps of the Liberty, Prominent Americans, Americana, Transportation, and Great Americans series, as well as numerous commemoratives, were produced on these presses. The BEP owned five of these presses, officially designated as presses 801, 802, 803, 804, and 805.
Counterfoil
The receipt half of a two-part stamp. Counterfoil issues are known mostly from European countries, such as Italy and San Marino, where the two-part stamps are usually parcel post issues. The intended use of counterfoil stamps is for one half to be affixed to the mail piece, with the other half being affixed on a receipt and retained by the sender. As a result, the most commonly encountered form of a used counterfoil stamp is as a half, although most halves have relatively little value. Used counterfoil entire's are scarcer and frequently command a premium price. Unused counterfoils are expected to be complete.
Counting Numbers
This term has two definitions. First, the Cottrell Press used them for printing coil stamps. At either the top or bottom of the web of paper, small numbers were engraved between plate numbers at intervals of four stamps. These numbers appeared below and above the fourth, eighth, twelfth, and sixteenth stamps. Because their location on the printing plates was so far away from the stamp image, they were normally trimmed off during processing and are rarely found. Such items are considered scarce and desirable. Second, many current coil issues have counting numbers jet-sprayed on the backs of the stamps at regular intervals. These numbers, when applied to large rolls, such as 3,000 and 10,000, help aid in assessing how many stamps remain on an opened coil roll.
Coupon
A non-postal label attached to a postage stamp. This usually applies only to margin-copy stamps, but some types of coupons are found in the interior of a stamp pane. In most cases, a coupon contains printed information that consists of advertising, propaganda, a slogan, or other information or illustrations. Coupons have been used on the stamps of many different countries, including Austria, Belgium, France, and South Africa.
Cover
Any envelope, folded letter or wrapper saved by collectors. The word originated with the advent of the envelope, which covered the contents of a folded letter. Cover collecting also is often colloquially referred to as postal history, a term that in its strictest sense refers exclusively to the study of mail rates and routes. Covers are deemed to be desirable (and are valued) according to the scarcity of their route or destination, the scarcity of the rate they represent or even the degree to which they show a common rate in an uncommon way, or with unusual postal markings. (For example, a 3-cent Jefferson on a cover with hand-stamped markings from a railroad accident is a more unusual way - and therefore a more desirable way - to show the basic first-class letter rate than an ordinary piece of cross-town mail.) In addition to the Prexies, other definitive series that are avidly collected by modern U.S. specialists include the Liberty series of 1954-68, the Prominent Americans series of 1965-78, the Americana series of 1975-81, the Transportation series of coil stamps issued during 1982-95, and the ongoing Great Americans series, which began with the 19-cent Sequoyah definitive in 1980. Many important modern U.S. definitive issues are not part of any coherent series, but are well worth collecting in their own right. Among these are the many U.S. Flag definitives issued intermittently since the 5-cent Flag Over White House of 1963. Also worthy of study are the non denominated definitives of the last 20 years - stamps without a printed face value that could therefore be introduced for immediate use whenever a new letter rate was declared, whatever that rate might turn out to be.
Crash Cover
A cover or envelope that has been salvaged from a wrecked craft and eventually delivered to the intended recipient. In most cases, such covers are accompanied by an official letter of explanation or some form of auxiliary marking that explains what happened. Some crash covers show little or no trace of damage. Such items are documented primarily by the letter of explanation. Other covers feature significant fire, water, or other damage. Collectors of interrupted mail generally prefer the more spectacular-appearing examples.
Crazy Perfs
Crazy perfs are irregular, freak perforations (misperforations) that appear on many stamps of the world. Their appearance can range from unusually shaped stamps to wildly zigzagging multiples with a bizarre appearance. Such stamps, usually very visibly striking, are classified as freaks, rather than errors because of their inconsistent nature. In some cases, they are caused either by operator error (on hand-operated perforators), or by a malfunction of the feeding mechanism on sheet fed perforators. The most striking crazy perfs are generally caused by foldovers on the sheet, causing the perforator to perforate multiple, misaligned layers of stamp paper at one time. When the folds are opened out, irregular multiples of crazy-perf stamps are the result. Crazy perfs are desirable to collectors of error, freak and oddity material and sell for premium prices. As a rule of thumb, the more unusual, the higher the price.
Crease
A stamp that has been creased is considered to be damaged. Creases (or folds) occur when stamps are improperly stored; as a result, bent corners or center creases occur. If the crease does not break the paper fibers, it may be gently pressed out with a warm iron so that it is barely noticeable. Creases that break paper fibers are more serious, however, because they sometimes break the printed design. If a crease is severe, the paper eventually will separate along the crease.
Curly Head
The name given by collectors to the Spanish Colonial key type used in 1898, depicting a young King Alphonso XIII, with a curly head of hair (he was about 12 years old).
Current
Any stamp or postal item that is still available at face value from a post office.
Cut Cancels
One of several types of stamp-disfiguring cancellations found on U.S. revenues. Cuts are applied to stamps to prevent illegal reuse. In most cases, revenue stamps with cut cancels are worth considerably less than those with ink cancellations.
Cut Close
Because imperforate stamps had to be cut apart to separate them, their centering and margins depend entirely upon how carefully the user cut them apart. When imperforate stamps are cut or torn from a sheet or pane for use by a non-collector, they are usually not separated with care. As a result, margins are often trimmed very closely to the stamp design. Many imperforate stamp designs were printed very close to each other on the sheet, making large margins extremely difficult to find under normal conditions; therefore, a stamp that has been cut so the design is affected on one or more sides is cut close. Less frequently, the term is used when a margin nearly touches the design, but clears it slightly. For postal stationery, the blame lies with collectors: some who saved cut squares from stamped envelopes cut the stamped area to shape, or simply did not allow a large enough, desirable margin.
Cut Square
A square or rectangular piece cut from an entire stamped envelope that include the entire stamped area, along with some margin. Squares are cut from full-sized envelopes for storage convenience and were the most popular form of U.S. stamped envelope collecting until recent years. Although a cut square is generally worth more than an item cut to shape, it is frequently worth considerably less that a full envelope. Postal cards are rarely collected as cut squares.
Example of a "Cut Square"
Occurs when a revenue stamp with an unusually shaped design has been trimmed to follow the contours of the design, rather that cut square. Cut-to-shape stamps are generally worth considerably less than full stamps, and most are unusual imperforates (such as beer stamps) or postal stationary items.
Cylinder Number
The recording number found on photogravure plates.
D
D Press
A six-color offset, three-color intaglio press of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing. In addition to producing numerous commemoratives, the D Press was frequently used to produce single-color definitive stamps. Obtained in 1984, the D press first produced the 20-cent Smoky Bear stamp. It was officially designated as press 902.
Dandy Roll
In papermaking, the dandy roll is a wire mesh (sometimes containing watermark bits), which presses the paper pulp as it leaves the vat, forming the basic texture of the paper. Laid paper, for example, is dependent on the dandy roll for its characteristics.
Dead Country
A postal administration that no longer releases postage stamps, due to invasion, disaster, name change or other governmental changes. The list of dead countries is constantly changing, because political upheavals result in the re-emergence of formally dead countries.
Dead Letter Office
The U.S. Post Office Department's repository for undeliverable mail, charged with officially opening the mail to determine, if possible, the sender or addressee so that the mail could receive the proper disposition. The Dead Letter Office is identifiable by special envelopes that it used and by various markings applied to mail that received its attentions.
Death Mask
The name given to a 1904 series of stamps from Serbia, picturing King Peter I, and marking the centennial of the reign of the Karageorgevich dynasty. When the stamps are turned upside-down, the bloodied features of murdered monarch Alexander Obrenovich V (assassinated in 1903) can be seen. Eugene Mouchon, engraver of the stamp design, denied the effect was intentional, but it is very clearly seen.
Dechromed
The softened state of a printing sleeve, after the removal of the chrome coating. At this point, the printing surface may be repaired and restored so that it may be rechromed and placed into service again. Plate scratches and other damage that creates plate varieties are frequently eliminated during this process that retains a printing sleeve.
Deckled Edge
This is a wavy, slightly thinner edge of a sheet of paper creating during papermaking. The edge is created by the deckle straps, which hold the paper pulp in its mold.
Definitives
Regular-issue stamps that are kept in use usually for a number of years. Unlike commemorative stamps, definitives can be reprinted as many times as new supplies are deeded. Definitives frequently appear as the small postage stamps found on most everyday mail that is intended to supply the most basic postal needs and therefore have been issued in many different, common denominations.
Decimal Denomination
A form of fractional-denomination stamp where the denomination is expressed in decimal format, such as 8.3 cents.
Denomination
The printed face value that appears on a stamp or postal stationery item.
Departmental Stamps
A form of official stamps designed for and used by government departments for prepayment of postage. Departmental stamps are intended for use by one particular government office alone. On the departmental stamps of the United States, the intended office's name appears on the stamp itself.
Design
All printed portions of the stamp. In some cases, such as souvenir sheets, the design may well extend beyond the dimensions of a stamp itself.
Design Error
Consists of such as the wrong number of stars on a flag or the misspelling of a name. Because all stamps of a given issue contain the error, no premium is normally associated with a stamp of the issue. The U.S. Postal Service attempts to correct design errors issued. Error collectors generally do not consider design errors to fall within the scope of error collecting.
Die
The original piece of steel or other material upon which a stamp design is first entered for production. This design is then multiplied to for the final printing plate, sleeve or cylinder from which stamps will be printed.
Die Crack
Damage done to the original engraved die, before printing plates are created. Because the damage is done to the original die, all stamps printed by duplicating that die will feature the flaw.
Die Cut Stamps
Currently, die-cut stamps are predominantly associated with self-adhesive stamps. This is a machine-cutting process that allows a stamp to be cut to any shape, without cutting through the backing paper. Such cutting can resemble perforations or any other shape desired. Die-cut imperforate beer stamps also are similar in definition and appearance to those that have been cut-to-shape, but have been cut by machine rather than by hand. Although die-cut stamps of this nature are worth less than full stamps, they are generally worth quite a bit more than those that have been cut to shape.
Die Crack
Damage done to the original engraved die, before printing plates are created. Because the damage is done to the original die, all stamps printed by duplicating that die will feature the flaw.
Die Imprint
Any item printed directly from a die. Typically, collectors refer to such items as die proofs, but the term really is not accurate for items printed from the original die long after the stamps were printed, because there is nothing left to be "proven." (A technical but more cumbersome term for such items is posthumous die proof.) Even more modern items, such as the stamp images that appear on modern-day Bureau of Engraving and Printing souvenir cards, can be referred to as die imprints. This is because they have been pulled from a form of die created from the original master die.
Die Proof
An image pulled from the original (usually engraved) master die. Throughout the designing process, die proofs are pulled to check design progression. These are known as progressive die proofs, which are a form of essay. Final-design die proofs often were given to various dignitaries as souvenirs.
Diplomatic Mail
Mail sent by diplomats, such as ambassadors' diplomatic mail from different countries. Such mail can take the form of a permit imprint, stampless, or mail bearing native countries' stamps postmarked in the destination country with the appropriate marking. Diplomatic pouch mail frequently has the stamps of the country of origin canceled in the destination country with the appropriate postal markings.
Direct Printing
Any form of printing where the printing plate comes in direct contact with the substrate or paper.
Disinfected Mail
A well-intentioned, but basically ineffective, attempt at treating mail from highly contagious areas to make it safe for others to handle. Disinfecting of mail began during the 14th century. Early attempts at disinfecting included passing letters over smoke, cutting slits and fumigating, lightly perforating and fumigating, and even soaking letters in vinegar or other substances. Disinfected mail ceased toward the end of the 19th century when it became more apparent that it had no effect. Nonetheless, covers with evidence of disinfections are rare and highly collectible by postal historians.
Distilled Spirits Revenue Stamps
Stamps that bear the highest denominations of any U.S. stamp, from 1 cent to $50,000. These stamps, usually found either with staple holes or punch cancels, showed payment of excise taxes on distilled spirits.
Docketing
Extra writing on a cover, usually applied by the recipient, that sometimes tells when the letter was received, read, answered, or when it was filed. This can be helpful to establish the date of the cover because many times the date does not appear in any of the postal markings.
Documentary Stamps
Arguably the most commonly encountered form of revenue stamps. These were for use on checks, contracts, wills and many other forms of legal documents. <