Glossary of Philatelic Terms

C
Commemorative Issue: A Commemorative Stamp is a stamp issued to mark a person, special event or anniversary - which is usually only on sale for a limited period of time. A commemorative stamp-issuing programme is compiled each year and between 12 and 15 commemorative issues are produced per year. Their themes and issue dates often coincide with a particular event such as National Heritage Day, National Marine Day, World Post Day, etc. undefined:

D
Definitive Issue:

F
First Day Cover: A First Day Cover is a cover usually issued by a Post Office on the day of a new stamp issue. Most are cancelled by a specially-designed canceller. Forever Stamps: Forever&reg; Stamps are first-class stamps issued by the United States Postal Service. What makes them special is that they are non-denominational, which means you can buy them at the current first-class postage rate, and they remain valid even if that rate rises in the future.

G
Gutter Strip:

M
Maxicard: Also known as Maximum Cards. Microprint:

Minisheet:

O
Offset Lithography:

Offset Intaglio:

P
Perforations:

Photogravure Printing:

Pressure Sensitive: See Self-Adhesive

S
Self-Adhesive:

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T
Tête-bêche: From French tête "head" and bêche, reduced from béchevet "placed with the head of one against the foot of the other". A pair (or Block or Strip) of postage stamps printed - purposely or in error - so that one is inverted in relation to the other either horizontally or vertically.