Knowing the meanings of certain stamp terms is an important part of stamp collecting because it means you have a thorough understanding of what you are doing. Here are some of the stamp terms that are well worth knowing:
Adhesive – This is, in actuality, exactly what a stamp is. A stamp is simply a piece of paper that pays for postage when it is applied to a piece of mail. A stamp is a piece of paper that has a pressure sensitive or gummed back.
Airmail Stamps – These are postage stamps that are used to pay postage rates for airmail. The United States stopped issuing airmail-specific stamps during the 1970s, which was when they began to send all mail via air.
As Is - This is a term that is often used in auctions, denoting that a stamp is being sold without any additional guarantees attached to it.
Authentication Mark – This is a tiny mark appearing on many rare and older postage stamps. What it is meant to do is to denote that the stamp has been examined by an expert, and that its authenticity has been approved.
Backstamp – This is a postmark that is applied to a cover’s reverse, indicating the transit or the receipt of mail.
Block - This is an un-separated, even numbered selection of stamps, such as a block of four stamps, six stamps, twelve stamps or so on.
Bogus - This is a fictitious label that appears like a stamp, but that is created specifically for being sold to collectors. Bogus stamps are not used for postage, but simply for displaying and collecting.
Cancel - This is a marking that indicates that a postage stamp has already been used.
Catalog - This is a comprehensive listing of revenue and postage stamps, including their illustrations and their current price valuations as well.
Catalog Value – This is the value of a particular stamp as given or indicated by a particular stamp catalog.
Centering – This is the position of the design of the stamp in relation to the margins that surround it. Centering is particularly important in the determination of a value on a stamp.
Classic Stamp – This is an early stamp issue that has the connotation of rarity.
Coil - These are stamps that are prepared in rolls from between 100 and 1000 stamps that are inserted into vending machines.
Commemorative – These are stamps that are issued for the purpose of honoring a person, a place or an event.
Condition - This is the stamp’s overall state, including the state of the gum, the centering of the stamp, the presence of damage on the stamp and so on.
Counterfeit - This describes a stamp or a cover or a cancellation that was created in order to deceive.
Crease – This is a fold indicating a weakening of the stamp’s paper.
Photo credits: karen horton
Originally posted 2009-11-11 03:57:41. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
Related Posts -
1909 Lincoln Stamp Set Stamps -> United States -> Collections, Lots The 1909 Lincoln stamp set represents the first time the United States Post Office had issued stamps that didn't promote or commemorate a current event. The public complained about the change in stamps in 1908 to Washing and Franklin stamps, because Lincoln had...... -
Buying your Postage Stamps Online With the wide availability of different stamps from all over the world, there is an enormous selection from you to take from when it comes to buying postage stamps online. The following tips should help you when it comes to expanding your stamp hobby by purchasing and even selling your...... -
History of Postage Stamp Collecting With the creation of the postage stamp came the birth of the concept of postage stamp collecting. This occurred just shortly after the first postage stamps were introduced in the year 1840 by Great Britain. Plilately, the study of postage stamp collecting has been derived from phileo, the Greek word...... -
India Stamps Stamps -> Stamps -> AsiaThe first India stamps were called Scinde District Dawk, getting their name from the place of their first use in the Sindh district of India. Typically the paper stamps were on some shade of white paper with the design stamped in blue ink, and the...... -
Valuing of Old Postage Stamps If you are interested in collecting stamps, then you probably already realize that stamp collecting is something that can be very valuable for a number of different reasons. Some old postage stamps are valuable simply because they are the only one of their kind, while others are valuable because they......
Related Websites -
Collecting Autographed Sport Memorabilia Are you thinking about collecting autographed sport memorabilia? If you are interested in creating a sports collection of some kind, one of the options that is available to you is collecting autographed sport memorabilia. If you want to add autographed collectibles to your own personal collection, what you may like...... -
Forever Stamp: You pay for choice The United States Postal Service will be bumping the price of a first-class stamp up a cent to 42 cents on May 12th, 2008. We (foolishly?) have about a couple books' worth of non-Forever stamps that we probably won't be able to burn through before the 12th. (I didn't use...... -
Collecting Rare Memorabilia Right now, collecting rare memorabilia is on the rise, and this particular practice gains even more attention when it comes to collecting rare memorabilia that once belonged to a great singer, actor or actress or some other famous individual that has recently or even not so recently passed away. Why...... -
Your Business Checkbook Doesn't Tell You Everything It can be a real challenge for a new entrepreneur who doesn't regularly balance his or her personal checkbook to adjust to the demands of business accounting. Business accounting is a critical discipline that the business owner either must learn and adopt - or must outsource to someone else. No...... -
Canadian Coins Coins and Paper Money -> Coins: Canada -> Commemorative Whether you are from Canada, or just interested in collecting Canadian coins, there are plenty of options out there and many of these coins are actually quite valuable. Before you get started with your collection, it’s a good idea to know......
For collectors of stamps from Great Britain, perhaps the most desirable stamp of all is the Queen Victoria Stamp. This is a rare stamp that was first made in 1840. The original value was one penny, but since that time these stamps have become much more expensive. You can easily expect to pay anywhere from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars on an authentic Queen Victoria stamp. 
