Home » Home & Style » Stamp Art » Defining the Terms

Defining the Terms

© Amy E. Badurina

Sometimes it seems, when you're first getting involved with the artistamp or mail art community, that discussions are in another language. There are all these terms and references that are familiar, but you may not have enough of a frame of reference to define them accurately in your head.

Well, that's what I'm here for.

Greg Byrd, of http://www.knoph.com and the Arky of Toast, has compiled the following terms and definitions from several sources. The first set is from the USPS itself -- found on http://www.usps.com/cpim/ftp/pubs/32html... -- and from a philatelic site located at http://www.filateli.net/kamus.htm . He was quick to add that this list is abbreviated, and more information may be available at either of these two sites, if you're interested in pursuing the terminology information.

And, as always, if you have questions, feel free to leave a note on the messageboards, and I'll answer whatever I can.

 

THE TERMINOLOGY LIST

COVER: An envelope that has been sent through the mail.

FIRST DAY COVER (FDC): An envelope with a new stamp and cancellation showing the date the stamp was issued.

CACHET (ka-shay'): A design on an envelope describing an event. Cachets appear on first day of issue, first flight and stamp exhibition covers, etc.

COMMEMORATIVES: Stamps that honor anniversaries, important people or special events.

PICTORIALS Stamps with a picture of some sort, other than portraits or static designs such as coats of arms.

MINIATURE SHEET A single stamp or block of stamps with a margin on all sides bearing some special wording or design.

SOUVENIER SHEET: A small sheet of stamps with a commemorative inscription of some sort.

POSTAL STATIONERY: Envelopes, postal cards and aerogrammes with stamp designs printed or embossed on them.

POSTMARK: A mark put on envelopes or other mailing pieces showing the date and location of the post office where it was mailed.

CANCELLATION A mark placed on a stamp by a postal authority to show that it has been used.

BOGUS: A completely fictitious, worthless "stamp," created only for sale to collectors. Bogus stamps include labels for nonexistent values added to regularly issued sets, issues for nations without postal systems, etc.

FAKE: A genuine stamp that has been altered in some way to make it more attractive to collectors. It may be repaired, reperfed or regummed to resemble a more valuable variety.

LABEL: Any stamp-like adhesive that is not a postage stamp.

REPLICAS: Reproductions of stamps sold during the early days of collecting. Usually printed in one color on a sheet containing a number of different designs. Replicas were never intended to deceive either the post office or the collector.

REPRINT: A stamp printed from the original plate after the issue is no longer

The copyright of the article Defining the Terms in Stamp Art is owned by . Permission to republish Defining the Terms in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.