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Philately Gets You Nowhere Trivia Quiz

A quiz on UK stamps and general postal history.

A multiple-choice quiz by romeomikegolf. Estimated time: 5 mins.

Author
romeomikegolf

Time
5 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
161,064

Updated
Nov 02 22

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
822

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. From 1902 until 1949 only two basic colours were used to print the lowest value stamps in the UK and many other countries. What were they? Hint

Blue and yellow

Green and blue

Red and blue

Green and red

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Question 2 of 10

2. What name is given to the pre printed and stamped envelopes and letter sheets issued at the same time as the 1d black and 2d blue stamps?

Answer: (One Word)

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Question 3 of 10

3. On sheets of stamps printed by Harrisons between 1972 and 1979 spots of colour appeared in the gutter between one pair of stamps per sheet. What are they known as? Hint

Ink spots

Printers blobs

Colour spots

Traffic lights

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Question 4 of 10

4. The pair of stamps with the spots between them are worth less than a pair without.

True

False

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Question 5 of 10

5. Who was the first non Royal to appear on a UK stamp? Hint

Lister

Churchill

Shakespeare

Burns

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Question 6 of 10

6. Where are the headquarters of the Universal Postal Union? Hint

France

Switzerland

USA

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Question 7 of 10

7. The Cape of Good Hope issued the world's first triangular stamp.

True

False

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Question 8 of 10

8. To a postal historian, what are Maltese Crosses and Spoons? Hint

Post marks

Stamp designs

Printing errors

Design flaws

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Question 9 of 10

9. Which country issued the first self adhesive stamp? Hint

Tonga

Sierra Leone

China

Australia

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Question 10 of 10

10. In the UK, until the arrival of the Penny Post, the recipient was expected to pay for any mail they received.

True

False

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. From 1902 until 1949 only two basic colours were used to print the lowest value stamps in the UK and many other countries. What were they?

Answer: Green and red

From 1902 until 1949 all UK 1/2d stamps were green and all 1d stamps were red. There were varying shades of each but the basic colours stayed the same. Many other countries followed the same convention.

2. What name is given to the pre printed and stamped envelopes and letter sheets issued at the same time as the 1d black and 2d blue stamps?

Answer: Mulready

They were named after the designer William Mulready.

3. On sheets of stamps printed by Harrisons between 1972 and 1979 spots of colour appeared in the gutter between one pair of stamps per sheet. What are they known as?

Answer: Traffic lights

The marks were examples of the colours used to print the stamp issue. Because the spots of colour are one above the other they were given the name of Traffic lights.

4. The pair of stamps with the spots between them are worth less than a pair without.

Answer: False

Because of their rarity they can be worth over ten times as much as a normal gutter pair, but only in unmounted mint condition.

5. Who was the first non Royal to appear on a UK stamp?

Answer: Shakespeare

William Shakespeare appeared on a commemorative set in 1964. Churchill and Joseph Lister appeared in 1965,and Robbie Burns had to wait until 1966.

6. Where are the headquarters of the Universal Postal Union?

Answer: Switzerland

The UPU, founded in 1875, is now a specialized agency of the UN and has its HQ in Bern, Switzerland.

7. The Cape of Good Hope issued the world's first triangular stamp.

Answer: True

The famous Cape Triangular was also the first stamp to be issued by any African country. It first appeared in 1861.

8. To a postal historian, what are Maltese Crosses and Spoons?

Answer: Post marks

The Maltese Cross was the first type of post mark used after the introduction of the 1d black. The spoon cancellation was introduced in 1853. It got its name from its distinctive shape of a circle intersecting an oval.

9. Which country issued the first self adhesive stamp?

Answer: Sierra Leone

Sierra Leone issued the first self adhesive stamp in 1964. They were in the shape of a map of the country. Three months later they issued the second set. Another five years passed until another country issued a self adhesive stamp. This was Tonga in 1969 and it was in the shape of a banana.

10. In the UK, until the arrival of the Penny Post, the recipient was expected to pay for any mail they received.

Answer: True

Because of the high cost many people would refuse to accept letters. Some people, soldiers for instance, would put secret messages on the backs of the letters so their families would know that all was well without having to accept and pay for the letter.

Source: Author romeomikegolf

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor ozzz2002 before going online.
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