Learning the basic terms and what they mean when collecting stamps will enable collectors when they are purchasing or selling their stamps to either other dealers or collectors. A glossary of these commonly used terms has been compiled to enable you to better understand when dealing with others in the stamp collecting environment.

A piece of paper that has a gummed or pressure sensitive back is called Adhesive. As Is a term used by auctions to describe a stamp that is being offered for sale without any guarantees. A public sale where a variety of stamps are sold to the highest bidder is an Auction. A postmark applied to the reverse of a cover to show it has gone through transit of the mail is called a Backstamp. Bogus is a fake stamp label created only for the sale to collectors.

A small convenient book of stamps often sold through a post office vending machine is a Booklet. An organized meeting of stamp dealers and collectors where stamps are sold and traded is called a Bourse. A picture of design illustrating an event of occasion for commemorative purposes on an envelope is a Cachet. Cancellation is a marking that is applied to a stamp to prevent it from being reused. A compiled listing of stamps that includes price valuations and illustrations is a catalog.

Certified Mail is mail the sender is given a receipt certifying items that have been mailed. Cover is an envelope, postcard, or any other wrapper used to mail correspondence. A cover that have been salvaged from a wreck or crash then delivered to the individual it was addressed to and containing an official explanation of the delay is called a Crash Cover.

A country that no longer issues stamps is known as a Dead Country. Denomination is the face value of a stamp. Embossed Envelope is an envelope that bears an embossed stamp. A stamped envelope or postcard that is entirely sold originally by the Post Office is known as an Entire. To make an expert examination of a stamp then to render an opinion on its genuineness is known as Expertize.

The value of a stamp noted on its face is called Face Value. An envelope that has been postmarked with a stamp on its first day of use is called First Day Cover. First Flight Cover is a cover carried on the first flight of a new air route for carrying mail. A collector who collects stamps of all varieties from different countries is called a General Collector. A form of cancellation is called a Handstamp. Hinges are tiny gummed glass like strips that are used to attach stamps to albums. Killer Cancellation is when a cancellation that is heavy and covers most stamps effectively without obliterating the design.

Margin is a area that surrounds stamps on a sheet. A cancellation done by hand with either a pen or pencil is known as a Manuscript Cancellation. Maximum Card is a picture postcard that show a design of a stamp or other subjects that bears either the stamp picture of a stamp that is related to the design that bears the postmark related to the subject. Mounts are vinyl or plastic holders that are clear on the front and have gum on the back. Multicolor means to have more than two colors.

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