Stamp Term Index

Think of this as a money tree for you. This will tell you every term I can think of and a few others for free. Think of it just solid infomation, for free! It is not complete yet

stamp type
commemoratives- A stamp that is made to honor something or somebody of importance, like Bugs Bunny stamps. There are fewer of this type.
Definitives- Not to honor, more for postage. There are a lot of them. This is like a flag stamp.
Other- Not for personal use, like nonprofit org.

albums-where you display your stamps
premade- This is a album that has pages with pictures of stamps, and you put the stamps on the pictures. these tend to be pricy
homemade- You take a notebook and paper, put the paper in the notebook and use it! This is very cheap.

attachers
hinges-A cheap type of stamp attacher to paper. It is a kind of paper with gum on it.
show Gardes- a window for stamps with gum on the back. It is expesive, so use on new or valueable stamps.

The three boxes above are the main things you will need down below are other definitions.

Watermark- A mark on the stamp put on by the maker, you can not see them with just the eye.

Cover: An envelope. Usually postally used.

First Day Cover: A cover with stamps canceled on it on the day they were first issued. Abbreviated FDC.

Cachet: The design (usually in reference to a FDC) that complements the stamp on the cover.

Cancel: The mark on a postally used stamp that makes a stamp non-reusable.

Philatelic: Relating to stamps and the collection of related material.

Perforations: The serrated edge on a stamp.

Mint: An unused stamp with full original gum on the back.

Used: A stamp that has seen postal use.

Selvage: The "scrap paper" around the stamps (outside of the perforations!) in a pane.

Plate Block: A block of stamps (usually four) that has the printing plate number in the selvage.

Zip Block: A block of stamps that has the "Always Use Zip Code" slogan in the selvage.

Packet: A grouping of stamps usually well sorted according to country, year, etc.

Mixture: An unsorted grouping of stamps.

Catalog Value: The value placed on a stamp in the Scott Standard Postage Stamp Catalog (always approximate!)

CTO: "Cancel to Order" stamps specially canceled before use for collectors. These usually have their gum still on the back of the stamps. Most have very little value.

RTS: Return to Sender

SASE: Self Addressed Stamped Envelope

SAE: Stamped Addressed Envelope

--Thanks to Tim Odom for most of these definitions.

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