Every hobby has its own sub-language of specialized terms and abbreviations;
stamp collecting is no exception. The terms and abbreviations listed below
are those most frequently encountered in philatelic literature and stamp auction
catalogues.
Every hobby has its own sub-language of specialized terms and abbreviations;
stamp collecting is no exception. The terms and abbreviations listed below
are those most frequently encountered in philatelic literature and stamp auction
catalogues.
/ or // Incomplete range; if range is complete, hyphen - is used Addr Addressed Ave Average, i.e., average condition, less than fine Bklt/B Booklet Bkstp(s) Backstamp(s) Blk Block Cat Catalogue Value CDS Circular date stamp cancellation Cert Certificate Commem Commemorative or Special Issue sets; not definitives CTO Cancelled to order - cancelled, but not postally used, and hence less desirable Defin Definitive or Regular long term issue stamp sets; not commemoratives Env Envelope F Fine, fine condition FDC, or F.D.C. First Day Cover FL Folded lettersheet HH Heavily Hinged HR Hinge Remnant Imperf or Imp Imperforate Mi or Michel Michel (German) Catalogue MNH Mint, Never Hinged MLH Mint Lightly Hinged MS, or ms Manuscript NG No gum OG Original gum OS Official Service - Official Use PC Postcard Perf Perforation pr Pair PSE Pre-Stamped Envelope SC or Scott Scott Catalogue number current edition and price in $US s/d Small defects SE Straight Edge SG Stanley Gibbons catalogue number - usually "Part 1" Br. Commonwealth, values in £ Sterling SS or S/S Souvenir Sheet; sometimes given as s/s Superb As close to perfection as one is likely to see - for this reason, term should be used infrequently Unadd Unaddressed Unhinged Never hinged; more of a British term Unused Some individuals prefer this term over "mint" if an item is other than never hinged Used Postally used, cancelled VF or V.F. Very Fine: Refers to overall condition Wmk Watermark Zum Zumstein Catalogue ** Mint Never Hinged * Mint, Lightly Hinged ¤ Used
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Daniel
McAdam is a dealer member of the American Philatelic Society.