Basic Terminology for Philatelists Quiz

Answer: Tongs

Stamps can be damaged by the oils in the skin. As well, the stamps' edges might be damaged by handling with the fingers.

In some English speaking countries, the term, "tweezers" is also used, but you might get a cringe from a stamp dealer is the U.S.A. "Duckbill tweezers" might be understood as well.

Answer: Perforations

Perforation teeth are the result of small holes punched between stamps for easy seperation without a cutting device. The first stamps to be perforated were issued in 1854 by the General Post Office of Great Britain, using a perforating device created by Henry Archer.

Perforations can come in a variety of styles and frequency in the number of perforation teeth per inch or centimeter. Small guages are available to measure them.

Answer: Imperforate

Prior to 1854, all postage stamps were issued imperforate and had to be seperated with scissors or cutting blade. Since perforated stamps became standard, imperforate stamps were still issued, sometimes in error, but also intentionally for collectors and special vending devices. The newer self adhesive stamps are separated by syncopated faux perforations.

Answer: Gum

Nowadays, many countries' postal systems have opted to issue self adhesive or "peel-and-stick" stamps that do not require wetting to affix the stamp to the article to be mailed.

Answer: Coil

Coil stamps are issued to accommodate vending machines and dispensers. One might also find a coil stamp with perforation on the top and bottom or on only one side. In the latter case, the stamp is the last one on the coil roll. Usually, rolls of coil stamps contain 100 stamps.

Answer: Covers

Covers from the classic era , pre 1900 can sometimes be quite valuable. It is not advisable to cut or remove the stamps from these covers.

Answer: It was sent on the inaugural flight of a new airmail route.

In the early years of Airmail Service, the U.S. Post Office routinely marked letter carried on inaugural airmail flights. Many of the covers have a "cachet" (A picture and/or information about the flght) on the left side of the cover. The covers are highly sought by collectors.

Answer: Error

Normal airmail stamp "Inverted Jenny" (Scott Catalogue # C3a) error was created in 1918 at a time when bi-colored stamps were printed one color at a time in two presses. A mint employee inadvertently placed one sheet of stamps in the press in the wrong direction, making it appear that the Jenny airplane is flying upside down.

Only 100 of these stamps were known to have been sold, having missed the eyes of the inspector, who should have sent the sheet of stamps to be destroyed. The stamps eventually separated into singles and blocks and sold to collectors. Only 96 of the stamps are known to be in the possession of collectors or investors, and have fetched over US $1,000,000 for a single stamp in auction (2013).

Answer: Tete-Beche

Tete-Beche or Tęte-Bęche, is the French term meaning, "Head to Tail". This phenomena can occur intentionally to indicate where stamp panes were to be seperated prior to sale, or by accident. This type of pair might be found imperforate or perforated.

Triangle shaped stamps were generally printed intentionally in Tęte-Bęche format to maximize the quantity of stamps that could fit on a sheet or pane of stamps.

Answer: Watermark

Watermarks are used to prevent forgery and to identify the printer contracted to print the stamps. When observed from the reverse side of the stamp, the watermark will appear in reverse.

Special fluids and devices are available from most stamp dealers to enhance the viewing the watermark image, without damaging the gum or face of the stamps. Watermark fluids have a very low boiling point and will evaporate at room temperature, leaving no trace or damage to most stamps within a minute or so.