Useful Stamp Collecting Terms

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Terms that relate to stamp collecting are very important and help the collector know more about the particular stamps they are collecting. Avid collectors keep a ledger of these terms and their definitions. Collectors can also find terms and definitions online. If you are interested in starting a collection, it would be wise to find this list of terms to help you identify qualities and forgeries you may encounter. This article covers some of the more obscure terms for both the beginner and the seasoned collector in search of a refresher.

The first term to know is ‘authentication marks’. These are marks, such as initials, usually on the reverse side of the stamp, revealing that an expert has authenticated the stamp and in no way detracts from the value. Along the same line is the term ‘backprint’. This identifies by numbers or symbols and gives information concerning the image on the other side of the stamp. Still another term concerning markings on a stamp is ‘Bishop Mark’. Introduced by Henry Bishop in England around 1660, Bishop Mark was used to indicate the month and the day the post office received a letter, thus encouraging the prompt delivery by the carrier.

‘Fugitive inks’ are cheap, easily dissolvable inks that make a stamp useless. To help discourage forgery or the removal of cancellations, many governments have used fugitive inks to print stamps. Like our new paper monies of late, some stamps have ‘ghost imagery’. This term was derived by the use of two different numbers being imprinted on a stamp; one dark enough to see clearly and a second number in a lighter color.

An interesting stamp bearing the portrait of Queen Victoria on a black, one-penny stamp was the first adhesive stamp issued for prepayment of postage. These are called ‘black-penny stamps’ and would be quite an addition to a collector. Another term to help the collector be aware of the value of the stamp is simple yet very important. Some stamps are ‘regummed’, which means adhesive has been applied from an unauthorized source. ‘Wove paper’ is a paper showing few differences in texture and thickness when held to light. In the production of wove paper, the pulp is pressed against very fine netting, producing a virtually uniform texture. Wove paper is the most commonly used paper in stamp production.

These are just some of the terms that will help the new stamp collector be aware of the stamps added to their collection. While this hobby can be a method of relaxation, it can also become something of a bother to discover that some of the stamps in a collection are fabricated forgeries. Happy collecting!