Airmail: Stamps used purposely for charging airmail deliveries. In most of the counties these stamps are used for the ordinary post deliveries as well. The first airmail stamps were reprinted on the stamps of the regular issues.
Album: Special thicker sheets cased in a separate part or in special covers, on which stamps are attached. Sheets are marked with frames and cuts where stamps are placed. There are commonly used sheets without the marking – slightly squared in stripy or straight lines. This allows stamp-collectors to arrange the stamps to his desire and taste. Albums are:
complete - contain all basic types of stamps issued by a country;
detailed – contain the basic types and all subtypes, freaks etc.
children’s (amateur) – contain some of the types of different issues.
Analysis: The testing of a stamp for determining its authenticity and quality. This is necessary measure because the older and more valuable stamps have become subject of counterfeit and fake.
Anniversary stamp: Special issues to honour activities and merits of notable persons.
Authentication Mark: This is the mark on the reverse of the tested stamp certifying its authenticity. The position of the authentication mark defines the quality of the stamp. Normally the mark contains the initials of the expert’s name in a very small size or his signature in normal size. Distinction between the expert’s mark and any random marks tagged by other persons should be made.
Binder: A folder with cardboard sheets with gauzy cloth, parchemin or cellophane bands. It is used for stamps preservation or collection arrangement.
Block: One or more stamps, printed specially on small sheets with white margins on which in some cases different texts are being imprinted: names, dates, vignettes, decorations on the block value which is often different from that of the printed stamps. They could be rough or straight.
Block: Compound, a group of unseparated stamps. Most commonly a block refers to a block of four. Such blocks with old stamps are particularly valuable and wanted especially if they are unstamped and has significantly increased value compared to the value of the single stamps it is composed.
Catalogue: A book containing description of different stamps issued by one or more counties, with patterns with tags and prices. The catalogue is necessary reference book for introducing the stamp-collector with the various stamps issued. The catalogues are common- containing the stamps of all the countries in the world and separate – for some continents and/or states. The latter are more detailed.
Chargeable: Used for stamping where the cost is collected by the addressee.
Charity stamps: They are issued in different counties for supporting some charity activity with the revenue or part of it gained from the sale. In some cases the part designated for the charity is collected as to the basic nominal value of the stamp an additional cost is added marked with + (plus). In this case stamps are paid in their total value and are charged in their basic value. Under the decision of the International Philatelic Federation the extra fee can not exceed 50% of the basic value.
Classic stamps: Stamps issued by the countries in the period around 1890.
Collection: A compilation of stamps arranged in an album or a binder to the taste or views of the stamp-collector. Collections can be:
catalogue, when stamps are collected in the same way as indicated in the catalogue
thematic – under the themes chosen and developed by the stamp-collector himself;
subject: under the subject chosen by the stamp-collector
specialized: evolved series etc.
Commemoratives: Special issues to honour important people or events. Such stamps were first issued in the United States in 1891 on the occasion of the 400 anniversary of the discovering of America. In most cases they are not used for stamping but are bought up by the stamp-collectors.
Crease: Incorrectness in perforation causing punching of the design in case of a casual fold of the sheet at some of the edges when placed on the puncher.
Denomination: The face value of a postage stamp.
Embossing: Improved way of stamp printing. In this type of printing it is get a certain relief of the impress that can be felt with fingers. It is distinguished by its neat impress.
Engraving (steel-engraving and half-tinted): Method by which the print forms are get through chemicals applied on the copper rolls.
Exchange: One of the ways by which stamp-collectors make up their collections. It is performed on some catalogue but also on special stipulation. Most commonly the exchange is made on the denomination rate stipulated on agreement.
Expert: A qualified person who by means of various methods of examination and comparison determines the authenticity of a stamp.
Fault (freak): A stamp imprinted in colour differing from that which was supposed to have or has one or more faults done in printing, incorrect position etc. In great demand by the experts.
Format: Stamps are being printed in different size – portrait or landscape rectangle, square, triangle, rhomb, and rhomboid, round and multiangular.
Gum: A liquid mixture covering the reverse of the stamp. It may be neutral and lucid or slightly tinted. At first gum was laid on the back of the stamps after printing, but mostly they are printed on paper gummed in advance. The gum is the primary mark of stamp genuineness. If a used stamp is regummed the value of the stamp is considerably decreased.
Hinge: A lucent paper with adhesive for sticking stamps on the albums. Gum of the hinge does not damage stamps. A high-quality hinge - properly and carefully fixed does not reduce the stamp value.
Imperforate stamps: Not perforated stamps. It must be used scissors to cut apart.
Legend: Inscription on a stamp explaining the occasion of its issue, the cost, state or year of issue, subject, design etc.
Lithography: A common method of printing stamps in which stamp design is applied on a lithographic plate and stamps are printed by pressing. In this method the colours are not so fresh and the print is not clear enough, there are not remnants on the back.
Margin: The gap between the outlines of the design and the edges of the same – the tooth or cutting.
Millesime: A figure indicating the year of printing of a stamp. Some millesimes are not entered on the stamp but on the white margin of the sheet, on which stamps are printed.
Mint: Unused stamp with its original gum.
Negative: A mirror image on the reverse of the stamp. It is due to the ink penetration in paper.
New issues: Stamps issued by a country in the past twenty years.
Nuance: Difference from the basic colour. A stamp printed in different nuance is not a freak.
Official stamps: Stamps used for the official postal parcels.
Offset: A lithographic process where the plate is replaced by metal, usually zinc. The image is transferred on a roller which allows using of less satin paper.
Overprint: Any printing over the original design of a stamp with the purpose of changing its value or designation.
Pair (of stamps): Two stamps that are horizontally or vertically joined in their original state of issue. Some stamp-collectors make pair collections.
Parcel stamps: Special stamps for payment of parcel post fees.
Perforation gauge: A tool of cupboard or some artificial fabric for determining the size of stamp teeth. Usually it is printed in lines and pins.
Pincers: Metal nippers for the convenient handle with the stamps. Thus probable cancellations or contamination are avoided.
Postal mark: A date mark on a postage stamp for charging the postal parcels. Postal marks are varied and have changed throughout the years. They are of great interest in composing the specialized collections and examination of thematic collections.
Printer's Waste: Stamps or overprints designed for waste. Many people regard them as freaks but they have not such properties.
Proof: Stamps printed in different colours and on different paper before the actual production colour or paper. They are subject to extermination and do not represent a freak.
Provisional: Temporary postage stamps, issued to meet postal demands until new or regular stocks of stamps can be obtained. Because of their transient use they are valuable.
Quality: Depending on different factors stamps are first and second quality. The prices in the catalogues are set always for perfect stamps i.e. first quality. Even the smallest faults such as teeth faults, folding, thinning etc. reduce the stamp value.
Release: An issue of a stamp or series of stamps with a certain purpose. Depending on their purpose release can be: regular, commemorative, charitable, anniversary, airmail, official, chargeable etc.
Replica: A reproduction of old stamps dropped out of circulation. They are considered as a second issue although there are some differences from the first in the colour, quality etc.
Rouletting: Perforation of the edges of a stamp. Perforation is made to ease separation of the stamps. There are three types of rouletting:
Dash– done by a puncher with pins arranged is series. In this kind of perforation stamps may have not equal dimensions.
Sawtooth– done by a sawtooth puncher which perforates stamps on the three sides and the top. Stamps are always equal.
Serpentine – a wavy line perforation.
Dash rouletting is done by cross lines placed on a short distance. It can also be serpentine as well.
Rouletting vary depending on the number of holes within two centimetres. In the catalogues the perforation is described in numbers. A one number indication means that each side of the stamp has equal number of teeth. When described in two numbers it means that the numbers of the teeth of the horizontal and vertical sides are differing.
Sanatorium fund: Extra-charged stamps for postal parcels sent in the holidays. In nature they are some kind of charity stamps because the revenue of such stamps is intended for the needy postal employees.
Scuffing: Reducing of paper thickness in some places of the stamp. This leads to sensible decrease of stamp value.
Sealing: Sealing a stamp. The seal can bear a date or other information. This means that the stamp served its function, the postal service is done or is about to be done.
Series: A group of stamps with a similar theme. One series may be issued in parts.
Silk thread: Some countries imprint stamps on paper with a silk thread which can be seen on the reverse of the stamp. It is used to prevent imitations.
Size: Expressed in millimetres. It is measured only the print but not the white margin of the stamp.
Soaking: Normally stamps are not arranged in an album or binder as stuck on the cover but have to be cleaned in the first place. Most stamps may be soaked for 15 min in lukewarm water, and when remnants are set apart they have to be dried. The inks of some stamp however will run in water and may damage the rest stamps.
Special delivery: Some countries issue stamps for letters which have to be delivered to the addressees once they arrived. For the delivery of these letters a particular service “Special Delivery” (Express) is being organized.
Specimen: It is printed on the stamps sent to the International Postal Union, other postal administration or for publicity free of charge.
Strip: Unseparated stamps in a row vertically or horizontally. A strip of old and rare stamps especially unused has considerably larger value than the total of the values of the stamps of which strip is composed. The term “Band” is also used.
Surcharge: An extra charge collected on the sale of the stamp and does not include the regular charge.
Tete-Beche: A pair of unseparated stamps, one of which is inverted in relation to the other. Can be horizontal or vertical.
Total print: Number of stamps of a series.
Typography: Stamps printed on a typographic method i.e. through embossed plates. The design emerges on the reverse of the stamp.
Unreleased stamps: Stamps that have already been printed but because of some political or other cause have not been released in the post offices.
Want-list: A list of needed stamps, identified by a catalogue number. It is used when exchange and order.
Watermark: (filigree) figures, letters or numbers and lines on paper which is get during the paper processing. They are colourless and lucent. They emerge when exposed to stronger light or placed on a black pad and when poured with commercial brand of watermark fluid. Watermarks are used to avoid stamp fake. All countries use several kinds of watermarks and on the catalogues they are marked with a number just next to the name of the series.