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| Philatelic Glossary - A - |
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A Betale-Portomerke: (Nor.) Norway postage due inscription, 1922-23.
A Certo: (Sp.) Ancachs, 1884 Peru manuscript overprint, provisional issue; term is former canceling device used for another purpose.
A Combination Press: BEP webfed, BEP eight color press, 1973-93, created floating plate numbers.
A Felkelo Makyarok Altal Megszallot Nyugat Magyarzag 1921 Aug.-Sept.: (Hung.) overprint on stamps of Hungary produced by armed forces ousting Austrian troops occupying portion of Western Hungary per terms of the Versailles Treay: “Western Hungary Occupied by Insurgent Hungarians 1921 Aug.-Sept.”
A Free Montenegro: 1920; label for Government in Exile issue prepared for King Nicholas return from exile, never issued since he died before taking office.
A Grill: one of several types of grills used in the 19th century, which covers the entire stamp. Example: Scott 79.
A M F: Air Mail Field, used in airport postal facilities.
A M T: (Ger.) office.
A Press: five-color gravure and three-color intaglio combination press used by the US Bureau of Engraving and Printing, purchased 1973.
A Punti: (It.) dotted.
A Receber: Postage Due, Portugal, Portuguese Colonies inscription.
A Ride Along Enclosed: USPS term for enclosures included with magazines.
A Stamp: US non-denominated stamp, valued 15˘, placed on sale May 22, 1978.
A T Co. (Atlantic Telegraph Company): U.S. telegraph stamps issued for use on own firm’s telegrams, 1888.
A and T, A&T: Annam and Tonkin overprint, French Protectorate in Indo-China; Jan. 21, 1888-1892: stamps of French Colonies surcharged A & T, see: Annam and Tonkin.
A buon mercato: (It.) a good buy, cheapest.
A censurar en destino: (It.) to be censored at destination.
A cheval: (Fr.) offset, straddling.
A condition: (Fr.) on approval.
A due colori: (It.) bicolored.
A découvert (Fr.): Universal Postal Union term for transit mail (mail that crosses borders while en route from one country to another) that is in sealed containers.
A la derecha: (Sp.) to the right.
A nemzeti hadsereg bevonulása 1919 XI/16: (Hung.) Liberation of Budapest, Nov. 16, 1919 overprint on stamps of Hungary.
A payer te betalen: (Dut.) Belgium, Belgium Colonies and Ruanda-Urundi Postage Due inscription.
A payer: (Fr.) Belgium, to pay, on postage due stamps.
A payer: (Fr.) Luxembourg postage due.
A percevoir: (Fr.) to collect inscription/overprint on postage dues of Belgium, Canada, Egypt, France, Haiti and Monaco.
A perforating machine: single-line perforation guillotine used by Perkins, Bacon & Co., for Trinidad, 1860, and on British stamps.
A plat: (Fr.) flat plate (printing).
A thru X: Scott Catalogue suffix for Revenue Stamped Paper.
A$: Australian dollars.
A&ESC: Aberdeen and Elgin Sorting Carriage, British.
A-Post: (Swed.) Priority Mail label.
A-U: Colombia, Argentina, and Uruguay SCADTA consular overprint.
A. 23: underlined watermark of Orange River Colony 2/6d King Edward V11 Revenue stamp.
A. Bergqvist Lokala Expressposten: see Hälsingborg - A. Bergqvist Lokala Expressposten.
A. D. P. O./Z. O.: (Fr.) Zone Ouest (Western Zone for Lebanon), inscription; see: A.D.P.O.
A. D. P. O.: (Fr.) Administration Dette Publique Ottomane, inscription; Administration of the Ottoman Public Debt, 1917, French military occupation, revenue stamps.
A. D.: 1: Anno Domini, proceeds year date. 2: Andrew Dick, manuscript surcharge; 1891-95: British East Africa Protectorate issues. 3: abbreviation for Andrew Doherty, on Playing Card stamps.
A. E. A.: Atomic Energy Agency.
A. E. D.: affranchie a letranger jusqua destination; 1827: usage for mail from Sardinia to France where postage had been prepaid.
A. E. F.: 1: French Equatorial Africa (Afrique Equatoriale Francaise). 2: American Expeditionary Forces established in World War I; AEF Mail, AEF post offices and AEF booklets.
A. E. J. F.: (Fr.) affranchie a létranger jusqua la frontiere; prepaid to the border only, used in France during the 1830s.
A. E.: (Fr.) affairs étrangcres foreign affairs, French Colony Revenue inscription. 1912-1944: Italian issues overprinted Egeo, Isole Italiane DellEgeo from various islands: Calchi, Calino, Caso, Coo, Fero, Nisiro, Patmo, Piscopi, Rhodes (Rodi), Scarpanto, Simi, and Stampalia, 1916: stamps of Italy without overprints used, 1920: Greece recognized Italian control of the islands, 1923: formerly ceded to Italy, 1944-45: German occupation issues, 1945-47: British Middle East Forces occupation overprint MEF (Middle East Forces), 1947: stamps of Greece overprinted SDD (Dodecanese Military Occupation), 1947: stamps of Greece.Egte: (Dan.) authentic.
A. F. I. S.: (It.) Amministrazione Fiduciaria Italiana della Somalia (Italian Trusteeship of Somalia); Italian Somaliland.
A. G.: Attorney General, South Australia official overprint, 1868-74.
A. H. PD: Angra, Horta, Ponta Delgado overprint on stamps of Azores, 1906.
A. I. F.: Australian Imperial Forces overprint.
A. M. G. F.T.T.: Allied Military Government Free Territory of Trieste; 1947-54:Zone A, Italy, Trieste overprint on stamps of Italy.
A. O. F.: Afrique Occidentale Franeaise French West Africa overprint, 1945: on stamps of semi-postal issue of France.
A. O. I.: Italian East Africa Postage Due overprint, 1941: on stamps of Italy.
A. P. C.: Anglo-Palestine Co. perfin that has been reported being privately reproduced.
A. R. Colón Colombia: Panama overprint on stamps of Colombia indicating acknowledgment of receipt.
A. S.: Army Service, Sudan perforations in 1913.
A. T: Army Telegraph; Orange Free State overprint.
A. Thene Budcentralens Expresspost: see Hälsingborg - A. Thene Budcentralens Expresspost.
A. W. Auners Despatch Post: United States local post, Philadelphia, Pa. 1851.
A. Z.: Albania 1927 overprint for President Ahmed Zogu.
A.A.A.: Australian Air Mail Association.
A.A.L.: Adria Aero Lloyd, Italy.
A.A.Vantine: US cancel or revenue stamp overprint for face powder product, 1914.
A.B. & S. (A. Beecher & Son): U.S. match stamp inscription; see Private Die Proprietary Stamps.
A.B.: 1: Archibald Brown manuscript surcharge, 1891-95 on British East Africa Protectorate issues. 2; (Fr.) assez beau; fair to good condition, or appearance. 3: (Fr.) abonnement; subscription (to catalogs). 4: (Fr.) Armeé Britannique 1748 British Army handstamp, for Austrian army, usually on mail from Germany; carried by Thurn and Taxis to Belgium; see: Thurn and Taxis. 4: Russia surcharge, Cyrillic for Vladivostok Issue, Far Eastern Republic, 1923.
A.B.A.: A.B. Aerotransport, Swedish airline.
A.C.C.P.: Azerbaijan, Cyrillic for Azerbaijani Soviet Socialist Republic.
A.E.F. booklets: books of 1˘ and 2˘ denomination made for the A.E.F. in France in panes of thirty stamps, 1918.
A.E.F. post offices: handled A.E.F. mail, July 1, 1918.
A.E.P.: Académie Européenne de Philatélie; European Academy of Philately; founded in France in 1977, to develop the friendship of European prestigious philatelists and to publicize their work.
A.F.R.: see Asociatia Filatelistilor din Romania (A.F.R).
A.I.F. Australia, locals: 1: Beaudesert Tramway, 1906-42. 2: Brisbane Parcel Delivery, 1900s 3: Burdell & Co’s. Express, 1854. 4: Coolgardie Cycle Express,1894-96. 5: Herald & Weekly Times, 1920. 6: Murray Steam Navigation Co., 1872. 7: Pichi Richi railway, late 1980s. 8: Silverton Tramways, 1887-1960s. 9: Sydney Tramways. 10: Boxing Kangaroo, with boxing gloves; unissued Great Britain cinderella by David Horry, 2001.
A.M.G. V.G.: Allied Military Government Venezia Guilia; (Trieste), 1945-47: overprint on stamps of Italy, Allied Occupation of Venezia Guilia, replaced only for Trieste after Paris Peace Treaty in 1947 by A.M.G. F.T.T., see A.M.G. F.T.T.
A.M.G.O.T.: Allied military Government Occupied Territories.
A25: British Colonial Office cancel for Malta.
A: 1: precedes the European postal code on addresses in Austria. 2: anotacion, Colombia registration inscription, 1865-70. 3: architect, South Australia official overprint, 1868-74. 4: Aerovias Nacionales de Colombia S.A. Avianca airlines, overprint on Colombian air mail stamps of the 1950s. 5: a marginal marking used on flat plates indicating uniform vertical spacing between columns of stamps. This marking was intended to assist operators of perforating equipment. 6: air mail overprint on SCADTA air mail issues of Colombia, indicating a consular overprint sold in Germany, 1920. 7: Scott Catalogue prefixes for forerunners, such as India, used abroad. 8: watermark, with Imperial Crown, used in Australian stamps, 1913-26. 9: Amic, papermaker initial as a watermark, in the one lira issue of Modena. 10: in front of plate numbers, “A” indicates issues produced by American Bank Note Co. on rotary plates from Scott 1789 onward. 11: A inscription, U.S. non-denominated stamp, valued 15-cents, placed on sale May 22, 1978. 12: (Ger.) Auslandsbriefpriifstelle; Foreign Letter Censor Office, WW II, followed by letter indicating city. 13: auction abbreviation for autograph. 14. Anvers (Belg.) Antwerp. 15. architect, South Australia official overprint, 1868-74. 16: Armée (Fr.) army. 17: Auslandsstelle, Auslandsbriefprüfstelle (Ger.) Foreign Letter Censor Office, WW II, followed by letter indicating city. 18: Australian stamps watermark, with Imperial Crown, 1913-26. 19: Ante Meridiem, morning, coded time handstamps of 1890s. 20: Gibraltar, Imperial Censorship Code, WW II. 21: time of departure for Zeppelin flights.
A: Prioritare: label applied to mail originating in Europe meaning next day domestic delivery.
AA: 1: USPS abbreviation for Armed Forces Americas, except Canada, see: AE. 2: (Fr.) Armée Autrichienne” (Austrian Army) 1748 British Army handstamp, for Austrian Army, usually on mail from Germany; carried by Thurn and Taxis to Belgium; see: Thurn and Taxis.
AAB: Aloysius A. Baldus, BEP employee initials, 1906-1928; see Plate Finisher, Siderographer.
AACMO: Army Sir Corps Mail Operation, 1934-35.
AADC: automated area distribution center, USPS term.
AAFPO: Australian Air Force Post Offices.
AAI: Allied Armies, Italy.
AAMC: 1: American Air Mail Catalog, USA. 2: Australian Air Mail Catalogue, Nelson Eustis.
AAMS: see: American Air Mail Society.
AAPE: American Association of Philatelic Exhibitors, USA.
AB: Andrew Black, BEP employee initials, 1906-1928; see Plate Finisher, Siderographer.
ABB: marking on British postage-paid envelope; A indicates mail originates in Britain and was shipped to the U.S. as freight; first B indicates entry into the U.S. postal system, second B indicates delivery in the U.S.
ABC Warehouse: United Kingdom strike local post, 1971.
ABCF: Associaçăo Brasileira dos Comerciante Filatélicos; Brazilian Stamp Dealers Association.
ABDA: American, British and Dutch Administration, censor handstamp, WW II.
ABK: Andrew B. Kennedy, BEP employee initials, 1906-1928; see Plate Finisher, Siderographer.
ABNC, ABNCo.: American Bank Note Company.
ABPO: Australian Base Post Office. 2: Advanced Base Post Office.
ABSN: Al Burn Stamp News, USA.
ABSV: Arbeiter-Briefmarken-Sammler-Verein.
AC Tagging: Added to color; phosphored ink.
AC: actual count, USPS term.
ACCR: bogus, Antarctic Confederation of City Republics.
ACEP: (Fr.) Association du Collectionneurs des Entiers Postaux; (Postal Stationery Collectors Association).
ACFT: bogus, Antarctic Confederation of Federal Territories.
ACN: Arthur C. Noble, BEP employee initials, 1906-1928; see Plate Finisher, Siderographer.
ACOFIL: Associaçâo de Comerciantes Filatelicos de Portugal; Portuguese Stamp Dealers Association.
ACP: Advanced Coated Paper; a new phosphor coated paper with a brighter glow than the earlier paper, 1983.
ACPS: see: American Ceremony Program Society.
ACRSN: A.C. Roesslers Stamp News.
ACSC: Australia Commonwealth Specialist Catalogue.
ACT: air contract transportation tag, USPS term.
AD: 1: auction abbreviation for topical advertising. 2: Andorra, country code as used by UPU.
ADAPS: Assistant Director Army Postal Service.
ADD-ON: A cachet design added to a cover which was originally uncacheted.
ADH: Andrew D. Headley, employee initials, 1906-1928; see Plate Finisher, Siderographer.
ADS/Postalia Corp./Tele-Norm Corp./Francotyp-Postalia: U.S. postage meter firm, started about 1960, now a division of ADS-Anker Data Systems of Germany.
ADW: Alven D. Whittington, employee initials, 1906-1928; see Plate Finisher, Siderographer.
AE: 1: United Arab Emirates, country code as used by UPU. 2: USPS abbreviation for Armed Forces Africa, Canada, Europe, Middle East. 3: affairs étrangPres (Fr.) foreign affairs, French Colony revenue inscription. 4: aerophilately, a philatelic discipline recognized for FIP exhibitions.
AEF: Albert E. Fischer, BEP employee initials, 1906-1928; see Plate Finisher, Siderographer.
AF: 1. Afghanistan, country code as used by UPU. 2. currency abbreviation for afghan (Afghanistan).
AFC: Advanced facer-canceler, USPS term.
AFDCS: American First Day Cover Society.
AFFP: Abyssinian Field Force Post Office; used 1869 on fieldpost envelopes.
AG: Antigua and Barbuda, country code as used by UPU.
AGD: Accountant Generals Department; registry marking.
AGDP: (It.) General Administration of the Posts; pre-stamp cancel, Kingdom of Two Sicilies.
AGO: Adjutant General’s Office, Canada.
AHO: (Fr.) Armée Hollondaise for Austrian army; 1748: British Army handstamp, usually on mail from Belgium or Germany; carried by Thurn and Taxis to Belgium; see: Thurn and Taxis.
AI: Anguilla, country code as used by UPU.
AIEP: Association Internationale des Experts Philateliques (International Association of Philatelic Experts).
AIJP: Association Internationale des Journalistes Philateliques, International Association of Philatelic Journalists.
AJP: American Journal of Philately, USA.
AK: 1: (Pol.) Armia Krajowa” 1944 Warsaw uprising set, local issue. 2: USPS abbreviation for Alaska.
AKNA Barykadach: (Pol.) home army on the barricades, 1944, local issue.
AL: 1: Albania, country code as used by UPU. 2: USPS state abbreviation for Alabama.
ALA: American Lung Association, appears on some Christmas seals.
ALALC: on air mail stamp of Uruguay for the Asocoacion Latinoamericana de Libre Comercio (Sp.) Latin American Association for Free Trade.
ALC: Adam L. Chapman, BEP employee initials, 1906-1928; see Plate Finisher, Siderographer.
ALC: topical association abbreviation for air letter card.
ALF: see: Automatic letter facing machine.
ALFSEA: Allied Land Forces South East Asia.
ALL-PURPOSE CACHET: A cachet with a general design that can be used for many different stamp subjects.
AM POST, M in oval: Allied Military Post inscription; 1945-46: first issue of stamps after World War II in Germany.
AM Post/Deutschland: Allied military government issue, Germany 1945-46.
AM: : 1: Axia Metallikior, value in coin Greece overprint 1900, inscription in 1902. 2: auction abbreviation for aviation topical. 3: Armenia, country code as used by UPU.
AMC/F: airport mail center/facility, USPS term.
AMC: The Air Mail Collector.
AMDO: Army Mail Distribution Office.
AMERN: American, used on South American packet boats.
AMET: The Air Mail Entire Truth.
AMG travel permit stamps: used as fee receipts on post-World War II documents for persons entering and leaving Allied-occupied Germany, 1945.
AMG: Allied Military Government,1945-46, for civilian use in areas under Allied occupation, first issues Mar. 19, 1945, used only in American and British zones, French and Russian issued their own occupation stamps.
AMM-M from FC: boxed marking on diplomatic pouch mail indicating Division of Administrative Services-Mail- from Foreign Country.
AMO: Admiralty Mail Office.
AMSD: Air Mail Special Delivery.
AN: 1: 1900: duplex canceller inscription used at St. Kitts sub-post office in Anguilla. 2: auction abbreviation for topical animals. 3: Netherlands Antilles, country code as used by UPU. 4. Turkey overprint; Annas, currency unit.
ANARE: Australian National Antarctic Research Expeditions; 1947-65: mail antarctic expedition.
ANGL. EST: postmark used on mail from Paris to London, 1815-49.
ANK: Austria-Netto-Katalog.
ANT: Assistencia Nacional Aos Tuberculosos, Portuguese Anti-Tuberculosis Society.
ANZ UK FPO: Australia & New Zealand United Kingdom Forces Post Office.
AO: 1: associate (post) office, USPS term. 2: other articles, printed matter, newspapers, parcels. 3: Afrique Orientale; German East Africa, Belgium occupation. 4: Angola, country code as used by UPU. 5. 1918:overprint on stamps of Belgian Congo charity issue semi-postal. 6. Audit Office, South Australia official overprint, 1868-74.
AOD: Allen O. Dickey, BEP employee initials, 1906-1928; see Plate Finisher, Siderographer.
AOP: abbreviation indicating that the paper has a coating of phosphorescent material covering the entire surface.
AOPU: Asian-Oceanic Postal Union, on stamps of China for Formosa, 1963.
AP: 1: American Philatelist, publication of the American Philatelic Society, 2: Australia Post. 3: USPS abbreviation for Armed Forces Pacific.
APAL Travel: United Kingdom strike local post, 1971.
APC: American Philatelic Congress book.
APDC: Army Postal Distribution Center.
APEX: American Philatelic Society Expertising Service.
APHV: (Ger.) Allgemeiner Postwertzeichen-Händler-Verband Association of German Professional Dealers.
APJ: The Airpost Journal.
APO: Army Post Office; postal system used by U.S. military personnel stationed overseas.
APPS: Automated Package Processing System; a USPS package sorting program replaces Small Parcel and Bundle Sorting machines, 2002.
APRA: Alianza Popular Revolucionara Americana (Sp.) political movement in Peru founded in the 1920s, fund raising local label.
APRL: American Philatelic Research Library, part of the American Philatelic Society.
APS: 1: American Philatelic Society, founded as American Philatelic Association,1886, New York. 2: Army Postal Service, postal system used by U.S. military personnel.
APSHD: Army Postal Service Home Defence.
APT: USPS abbreviation for apartment.
APTS: Army Postal Training School.
APU: Army Postal Unit.
AQ: abbreviation for Aqua used on prestamped taxed letter sheets during the 17th and 18th century to raise money to control Venice’s floods.
AR: 1: Scott Catalogue prefix for Postal Fiscal. 2: Aviso de Recepcion acknowledgment of receipt. 3: Acknowledgment of Receipt, Chile, Colombia, Montenegro and Panama. 4: Argentina, country code as used by UPU. 5: USPS abbreviation for Arkansas.
ARA: American Revenue Association.
ARG: Alfred R. Gould, BEP employee initials, 1906-1928; see Plate Finisher, Siderographer.
ARM: 1. accelerated reply mail, USPS term. 2. Armée; dAngleterre; Napoleons French Army ready to attack Great Britain, 1790s.
ART: article, Anglo-French Postal Convention, 1843.
AS: 1: Samoa, country code as used by UPU. 2: USPS abbreviation for American Samoa.
ASBA: Australian Specialist Booklet Album.
ASC: Australian Stamp Catalogue; Seven Seas Stamps.
ASCAT: (Fr.) Association Internationale Éditors de Catalogues de Timbres-Poste; International Association of Stamp Catalogue Publishers.Ascedente: (Sp.) ascending, applied to homeward bound ships.
ASDA: American Stamp Dealers Association.
ASECNA: Agency for Security of Aerial Navigation; common design on stamps of the French Community of Nations, 1969-70.
ASM: Automatic Sorting Machine.
ASPP: American Society of Polar Philatelists.
ASSA East (West): Territory of Assiniboia, Alberta, Canada, when used in a postmark.
ASSA: Territory of Assiniboia, Alberta, Canada, when used in a postmark.
ASSR: Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic.
AT&Co Ltd: Alexander Thorn & Co. Ltd., printers of British post office stationery, late 1880s.
AT, A&T: French Colonies, Annam and Tonkin overprint.
AT: 1: (Fr.) Austria cancel for in transit. 2: Austria, country code as used by UPU.
ATA: American Topical Association.
ATF: Angleterre Transit Français, Aachen transit mark, mid 1800s.
ATHA: territory of Athabaska, Alberta, Canada, when used in a postmark.
ATLC: Air Transport Label Catalog.
ATM: Automatic Teller Machine, when used in philately, one that also dispenses stamps.
ATPOM: (Fr.) Agence des Timbres-Poste dOutre-Mer overseas stamp agency.
AU: Australia, country code as used by UPU.
AUS: international postal code for Australia.
AV2: cover marking distinctive of Hong Kong transit airmail.
AVE: (Fr.) Victims of Philatelic Investment Fraud, a group of accumulators who bought imperforate and non-denominated Monaco stamps as an investment.
AVR: see Avery Dennison.
AVSEC: USPS marking for Aviation Security, indicating the parcel has been screened for security purposes.
AW: Aruba, country code as used by UPU.
AWL: Albert W. Leger, BEP employee initials, 1906-1928; see Plate Finisher, Siderographer.
AX: Scott Catalogue prefix for forerunners, such as CSA-Postmasters Provisional.
AZ: 1: Azerbaijan, country code as used by UPU. 2: USPS abbreviation for Arizona.
Aachen: 1: formerly Aix-la-Chapelle,, also transit marking; see: Aix-la-Chapelle. 2: Aachener Stadbriefbeförderung Merkur, German local, 1894-97.
Aalborg Bypost: (Dan.) Denmark local post, 1884-89.
Aalborg Privatbaner: local, Denmark railway parcel.
Aalesund Bypost: (Nor.) Norway local post, 1880-84.
Aanesneden: (Neth.) cut into.
Aangebragt: (Dutch) Netherlands Dutch East Indies labels; 1845-46: postage due inscription.
Aangetekend: (Neth.) registered.
Aantal: (Dutch) number.
Aarau: Switzerland local airmail, 1913.
Aarhus Bypost: (Dan.) Denmark local post, 1884-1900.AAT: Australia Antarctic Territory.
Aayman Islands: bogus labels for Dayman, Layman, Nayman, Sayman, Yayman, etc.; British colonial royal wedding frames from book, Surreal Stamps and Unreal Stickers.
Ab: standard Berlin censorship office mark, WW II.
Aba-el-Wakf: Egypt, see: Interpostal seals, 1879-84.
Abaco and Cays: group of the Bahamas Islands.
Abajo: (Sp.) bottom.
Abart: (Ger.) variety.
Abattoirs: (Fr.) slaughter houses; French Colonies revenue inscription.
Abbey Post: United Kingdom strike local post, 1971.
Abbildung: (Ger.) illustration.
Abbonamento: (It.) subscription.
Abbotts Express: U.S. private local post serviced Boston, Lawrence and North Andover, Mass., label; 1850.
Abbozzo: (It.) specimen.
Abbreviato: (It.) abbreviated.
Abd al Kuri: bogus; island in Indian Ocean between Socotra and Horn of Africa.
Abdruck: (Ger.) print or impression.
Abeilles: (Fr.) bees, bee-like spots of French stamps issued 1863-71.
Abercorn: now Mbala, Zambia; see: Zambia.
Aberdeen 5 Mi (Miss.): see: Confederate Postmasters’ Provisionals.
Aberdeen: Aberdeen Circular Delivery Company, local, 1867.
Abessinien: (Ger.) Abyssinia, Ethiopia.
Abganagsstempel: (Ger.) postmark of office or origin.
Abgeblasst: (Ger.) faded, discolored, rubbed-off color.
Abgefärbt: (Ger.) stained.
Abgenutzt: (Ger.) worn.
Abgerissen: (Ger.) torn off.
Abgeschliffen: (Ger.) ground off, such as German South West Africa altered cancelers.
Abgestempelt, Abgest.: (Ger.) cancelled.
Abgetrennt: (Ger.) separated.
Abhängige: (Ger.) dependency (in the geopolitical sense).
Abidjan Games: common theme on stamps of the French Community of Nations, 1962.
Abidjan: French West Africa; 1959: March 21: stamp issue when colony became independent.
Abierta por la censura militar: (Sp.) opened by the military censor.
Abime: (Fr.) damaged.
Abingdon, Va. Paid 2 cents: see: Confederate Postmasters’ Provisionals.
Abkari: India States term for excise duties on liquors and drugs.
Abkhazia: part of the Republic of Georgia, formerly Russia; 1993-post: bogus, stamps and souvenir sheets printed by private individuals.
Abklatsch: (Ger.) offset, mirror image.
Abkommen: (Ger.) agreement, convention.
Abkürzn:(Ger.) abbreviated.
Abkürzungen:(Ger.) abbreviations.
Ablieferungbescheinigung: (Ger.) receipt for delivery.
Ablösen im wasser: (Ger.) soak off in water.
Ablösung: (Ger.) franking privilege for Prussian local officials.
Abnormal perforations: may be caused by a bent pin in the perforating machine.
Abnormal: nickname for stamps produced by De La Rue for Great Britain; 1862-80: one sheet for the archives, selected from sheets printed from a new plate, balance of sheets put into circulation.
Abnützung: (Ger.) wear.
Abo Lans Kustĺngbĺts: (Fin.) local post via steamship, Finland late 1890s.
Abo: now Turku, Finland.
Abominable Snowmania: bogus, Punch magazine cover parody.
Abonnement: (Fr., Ger.) subscription
Abonnements-Poste: (Fr.) subscriptions for newspaper do not require postage stamps; Universal Postal Union regulation.
Abonné: (Fr.) subscriber.
Abono(s): (Sp.) marking on early covers indicating that postage was prepaid to destination.
Abou-Choukouk: Egypt, 1879-82, see: Interpostal seals.
Abou-Hamade: Egypt, 1879-84, see: Interpostal seals.
Abou-Homos: Egypt, 1865-84, see: Interpostal seals.
Abou-Kerkas: Egypt, 1879-84, see: Interpostal seals.
Abou-Kibir: Egypt, 1879-84, see: Interpostal seals.
Abou-el-Scekuk: Egypt, 1874-76, see: Interpostal seals.
Aboukir: Egypt, 1880, see: Interpostal seals.
Aboutigh: Egypt, 1879-82, see: Interpostal seals.
Above privilege number: handstamp applied to a letter disallowed under the franking system.
Abrechnung: (Ger.) settling of account.
Abreviado: (Port., Sp.) abbreviated.
Abreviaturas: (Sp.) abbreviations.
Abreviaçăos: (Port.) abbreviations.
Abreviere: (Rom.) abbreviation.
Abroad: U.S. postal agencies in another country.
Abruka: bogus issue, not valid for postage.
Abrége: (Fr.) abbreviated.
Abrücken: (Ger.) departure.
Absatz: (Ger.) sale, paragraph.
Abschiedsserie: (Ger.) farewell series of a stamp issue, sentimental tribute; 1920: for example: Bavaria stamps overprinted Deutsches Reich.
Absender, Abs.: (Ger.) sender.
Absenderfreistempel: (Ger.) meters used by private firms.
Absendermarke: (Ger.) return address label.
Absendervermerk: (Ger.) return address.
Absentee ballot materials: postcard applications, ballots, voting instructions, and envelopes sent through the mail without postage prepayment; permits U.S. citizens, and their spouses and dependents to apply for registration and to vote when absent from the place of voting residence.
Absentee bidder: bidder participating in a public auction, but personally not present at the auction; see: auction agent, book bid.
Abstand, Abst.: (Ger.) spacing.
Abstempeln: (Ger.) to cancel.
Abstempelung: (Ger.) cancellation, a mark placed on a stamp by a postal authority to deface the stamp and prevent its misuse.
Abstimmung in Salzburg / 29 Mai 1921: (Ger.) bogus overprint on stamps of Austria.
Abstimmung: (Ger.) plebiscite.
Abteilung: (Ger.) battalion, detachment, unit.
Abtönen: (Ger.) color shading.
Abu Dhabi: sheikdom in the Persian Gulf; part of United Arab Emirates; currency: 100 naye paise = 1 rupee (1964), 100 fils = 1 dinar (1966) 1833: Dubai sheik renounced allegiance to Abu Dhabi, 1862-1971: under British protection, 1892: became British protectorate, 1948, Apr.1-April 26, 1966: Muscat; stamps of British Postal Administration surcharged in Indian currency, 1948, Apr.1-Jan. 6, 1961: Dubai; stamps of British Postal Administration surcharged in Indian currency, 1950-1957: Qatar; stamps of British Postal Administration surcharged in Indian currency, 1951: 1951, 1953: BPA stamps used in Kuwait and Bahrain during stamp shortages, 1956-1963: Das Island oil workers mail sent through British Postal Superintendent at Bahrain, 1960, Dec.-Mar. 29, 1964: stamps of British Postal Administration in Eastern Arabia used, 1963, Mar. 30: used stamps of British Postal Administration, opened office in Eastern Arabia, 1964, Mar. 30: No. 1, 5 naye paise bright yellow-green, 1966, Jan. 6: Das Island post office remained in Bahrain, 1967, Jan. 1: post office taken over by Abu Dhabi, 1971, Dec. 2: joined the United Arab Emirates, 1972, Aug.: Abu Dhabi stamps overprinted United Arab Emirates, 1973, Jan. 1: UAE joint issues with Ajman, Dubai, Fujeira, Sharjah, Umm al Qiwain.
Abu Dhabi: stamps overprinted United Arab Emirates, 1972.
Abusive Issue: if a stamp is not issued in a transparent or open manner and is not sold by the issuing postal administration.
Abutshi: city in Southern Nigeria; 1895-Oct.1899: Royal Niger Company handstamp used on stamps of Great Britain.
Abwehr: (Ger.) defense, military security.
Abweichung: (Ger.) variation, error.
Abwertung: (Ger.) devaluation.
Abwicklung: (Ger.) settlement or liquidation.
Abwicklungsgebühr: (Ger.) official fee.
Abyssinia: Ethiopia, former name; see: Ethiopia.
Abyssinien: (Ger.) Abyssinia.
Abzug: (Ger.) copy, proof.
Acacia gum: gum from the acacia plant, shrub or tree, named after the places or countries (arabic, senegal and syriac) in which the gum is collected.
Acambaro: bogus; Mexican District revolutionary provisional; 1914: simulating 1867 issue.
Acanalado: (Sp.) ribbed.
Acaponeta: (Sp.) Mexican District; 1914: revolutionary provisional issue.
Acapulco: overprint used on stamps of Mexico for this district during 1856-1883.
Accent: mark placed over a letter that modifies its pronunciation, appears on stamps.
Accept par la censure: (Fr.) passed by censor.
Accepted design: final stage in the stamp design being made ready
Accepté projet: (Fr.) adopted design.
Accessories: Any of the large variety of collecting tools and aids. Accessories include hinges, mounts, stamp tongs, perforation gauges, stock books, magnifiers and philatelic literature. Stamp albums and catalogs can also be regarded as accessories.
Accessories: products used by the stamp collector in the aid of stamp identification and handling; also known as tools.
Accessory Transit Co. of Nicaragua: local handstamp; 1836-1860: mail of private firm.
Accidenté: (Fr.) salvaged, damaged.
Account letter: letter forming part of a letter and number combination; 1887-1947: printed on British stamps.
Accountable mail: mail that requires the signature of the addressee upon receipt to provide proof of delivery.
Accountable materials: includes U.S. postal items such as aerogrammes, International Reply Coupons, postage stamps, philatelic products, postal cards, stamped envelopes and postal cards, blank postal money order forms, migratory-bird hunting and conservation stamps, or any unsold item, USPS term.
Accumulation: large collection of stamps that has not been arranged in any particular order.
Accumulator: one who collects stamps in show boxes, etc., not in any order or category.
Accurate: exact or correct; Sorgfaltig (Ger.), Soigne (Fr.), Acurata (It.), Esmerado (Sp.)
Acechador: (Sp.) scout topic, theme.
Aceituna: (Sp.) olive (color).
Achalpur: formerly Ellichhput, India.
Achat: (Ger.) buy.
Acheminé: (Fr.) forwarded (letter).
Achesons graphite: graphite lines, manufactured by Acheson Colloids, Ltd., Great Britain, used to activate an automatic letter facing machine, 1950s.
Acheter: (Fr.) to buy.
Acheteur: (Fr.) buyer.
Achin: Sumatra local overprint, Japanese occupation, 1942-45.
Achmant: Egypt, 1879-84, see: Interpostal seals.
Achrovure Division of Union Camp, Inc.: private printer of the 1968 U.S. Walt Disney stamp.
Achteckstempel: (Ger.) octagonal cancel.
Achterbock: (Ger.) block of eight.
Achterdijk: bogus, Donald Evans issue, Holland.
Achterkant: (Dut.) back.
Achéte: (Fr.) bought.
Acid free paper: paper manufactured under neutral conditions with a pH greater than 7.0 containing no acidic additives.
Acid: chemical compound having a pH below 7.0. Paper with a pH below 7.0 is considered acidic and can, in time, affect stamps and covers attached to the acidic page.
Acinzentado-amarello: (Port.) greyish-black (color).
Acinzentado-ardósua: (Port.) greyish-slate (color).
Acinzentado-azul: (Port.) greyish-blue (color).
Acinzentado-lilás: (Port.) greyish-lilac (color).
Acinzentado-oliva: (Port.) greyish-olive green (color).
Acinzentado-pardo: (Port.) greyish-brown (color).
Acinzentado-preto: (Port.) greyish-black (color).
Acinzentado-púpura: (Port.) greyish-purple (color).
Acinzentado-verde: (Port.) greyish-green (color).
Acinzentado-violeta: (Port.) greyish-violet (color).
Acinzentado: (Port.) greyish (color); see Cinza.
Acker Company: private advertisements mailed to customers; labels, 1882-1912.
Acknowledgement of Receipt (A.R.): notification by the post office that the mail piece has been delivered to the addressee; Ruckschein (Ger.), Accuser Reception (Fr.), Aviso di Ricevuta (It.), Aviso de Recibo (Sp.).
Acknowledgement of Receipt stamp: required to pay the additional fee for return-receipt service; paid with regular stamps in the United States; Ruckscheinmarke (Ger.), Timbre d’accuser de Reception (Fr.), Avviso di Ricevuta (It.), Sello de Aviso de Recibo (Sp.).
Acme City Parcel Delivery: private local post servicing Providence, R.I.; label, year unknown.
Acorazado: (Sp.) battleship marking on 1936-37 Spanish civil war covers.
Acostado: (Sp.) horizontal.
Acre, Territory of: bogus, Brazil rebellious state that was purchased from Bolivia in 1902, Donald Evans issue.
Acre: now Akko, Israel.
Across-the-lines mails: U.S. Civil War term for mail carried by private express firms between the North and South.
Actes de Naissance: (Fr.) birth certificates; French Colony revenue inscription.
Action Staff Agency: United Kingdom strike local post, 1971.
Acuartelamiento: (Sp.) barracks, Spanish civil war Foreign Legion cover marking.
Acélmetszet: (Hung.) steel plate engraving.
Ad Dawhah: formerly Doha, Qatar.
Ad arco: (It.) arch or leaf issue, 1930-31 King George V, Canada; name given to differentiate set from previous series.
Ad collar: printed advertising surrounding the stamp area.
Adadi: India States term for land settlement.
Adaluncatiff: bogus, no information available as to where distributed.
Adams & Co. Express: U.S. local post; Calif.; 1849, Sept.-54: operating in California and the Pacific Coast.
Adams & Co.s Poker Chip Stamps: stamps printed in thin pink cardboard and sued as poker chips or currency, 1854.
Adams & Cos Express: private local post servicing east coast, stamps, corner cards; 1841-55.
Adams & Masons Express: private local post serviced Boston, Medfield and Medway, Mass., labels; 1850.
Adams City Express Post: U.S. local post, New York, N.Y., 1850-51.
Adams Expres - Kjřbenhavn: see Copenhagen - Adams Expres Local Post.
Adams Expres Local Post (Denmark): see Copenhagen - Adams Expres Local Post.
Adams Express Company Knoxville, Tenn: carried mail across the lines during the American Civil War.
Adams Express Company: private local post; nationwide; stamps, corner cards, labels, year unknown.
Adana: formerly Seyham, Turkey.
Adaref: Egypt, 1879-80, see: Interpostal seals.
Add-on cachet: design added to a cover which did not originally have a cachet.
Add., Addr.: auction term, indicates cover is addressed.
Added Art: addition of original art to the margins of a stamp, aka remarque.
Addendum: appendix or supplement to a book; some stamp catalogs have an addendum listing stamps after the catalog had been prepared but prior to printing.
Addicional: (Sp.) overprint on federal tax stamps of Mexico; to indicate an additional fee to be added to any other taxable transaction.
Additional Medicine Duty Not Available for Postage: overprint on British postage stamps for revenue use in 1915, when rate of duty was increased and revenue stamps were not available.
Additional Printing: another printing of an already issued stamp that may be different or exactly the same ar the original issue. Afterprint: term for samples of every stamp issued in Finland as requested by the Russian postal authorities in 1891.
Additional halfpenny: hand-struck marking; 1813-1839: mail from England to or from Scotland indicating that an extra 1/2d postage was chargeable as a levy paid to the Scottish Turnpike Trusts.
Additional: increased in any manner.
Additionnel: (Fr.) increased in any manner.
Additive stamp: non-denominated issue U.S. stamp, used for additional postage during rate changes.
Addizionale: (It.) increased in any manner.
Addr.: addressed.
Address. & Office Supply: United Kingdom strike local post, 1971.
Address: place to which mail can be sent; Addressieren (Ger.), Adresse (Fr.), Dirigere (It.), Direccion (Sp.).
Addressee: one to whom anything is addressed; Empfanger (Ger.), Destinaire (Fr.), Destinatario (It., Sp.).
Addressieren: (Ger.) to write an address.
Adelaide: city in South Australia; 1836: handstamps introduced; Thomas Gilbert named first postmaster of colony, 1839: service expanded to Port Adelaide.
Adelgazado: (Sp.) thinned.
Adelie Land; 1840: Jules S.C. Dumont dUrville discovered territory, 1948: Terre Adélie-Dumont Durville 1840 overprint on stamp of Malagasy Republic.
Aden States: two sultanates of the Aden protectorate issued their own stamps in 1942 see: Kathiri State of Seiyun (Kathiri), QuAiti State of Shihr and Mukalia (QuAiti). Adhésif: (Fr.) adhesive.
Aden: Kalashnikov AK47; unissued Great Britain cinderella by David Horry, 2001.
Aden: now Yemen, South Arabia; currency:12 pies = 1 anna (1937); 16 annas = 1 rupee; 100 cents = 1 shilling (1951) 1839, June 5,-1937: used stamps of India, when annexed as a British colony and protectorate to British India; original post offices at Crater called Aden Cantonment (Camp), 1854: stamps of India on sale in Aden when office was place under the Bombay administration, 1858: main post office moved to Steamer Point, 1935: formerly made a Crown Colony, 1937, April 1: No. 1, ˝ anna light green; Aden (British) Protectorate, 1963, Jan.: became part of Federation of South Arabia, 1965, April 1: first Federation of South Arabia stamps issued; see Yemen, Kingdom of.
Adhesion Victimas San Juan y Pueblo Argentino: inscription on stamps of Paraguay semipostal for victims of an Argentine earthquake.
Adhesive collar: advertising collar that is affixed to an envelope over which the stamp is placed.
Adhesive: 1: paper postage stamp with gum on the back intended to be glued on letters, packages, etc. 2: the gum used to affix a postage stamp.
Adhesive: A gummed stamp made to be attached to mail. The gum can be pressure activated or made to adhere when wet.
Adhesivo: (Sp.) adhesive (stamp).
Adicional: (Sp.) increased in any manner.
Adigey: bogus Russian Federation Republic; local post overprint and stamps, not valid for postage.
Adirondack Express Co.: private local parcel delivery; serviced New York, Vermont and Canada; labels, year unknown.
Adjaria: bogus Russian issue, 1996?.
Adjudani: bogus, Donald Evans issue; Persia.
Adjudication: (Fr.) sale (to a bidder).
Adlercreutz: (Fin.) local post, ship cancel Finland, 1880s.
Administracion de Cambio: (Sp.) Foreign Section Administrative department, exchange rate.
Administracion de Correos: (Sp.) administrative department, post office.
Administrador de Correos: (Sp.) postmaster.
Administradorra de Correos: (Sp.) postmistress.
Administration Reform: common design on stamps of Portugal and Colonies, 1969.
Administration des Postes: (Fr.) postal authorities.
Administration of Western Thrace: in Greek, 1920 overprint on stamps of Greece, as a stopgap measure until the unoverprinted Greek postage is authorized.
Administrative Cancel: applied by the postal administration to change value of postal item.
Admirals: 1: 1912-25 series of Canadian stamps showing King George V in the full dress uniform of an admiral of the Royal Navy. 2: 1926 New Zealand issue. 3: 1913-19, Rhodesia. 4: 1924-30, Southern Rhodesia.
Admirals: A nickname for three British Commonwealth definitive series, those of Canada, 1912-25; New Zealand, 1926; and Rhodesia, 1913-19). These stamps depict King George V in naval uniform.
Admiralty Islands: see: New Guinea, Mandated Territory.
Admiralty Official: Admiralty Dept., Great Britain 1903 overprint for official use.
Admon. Pral. De Correos del Depto. De Apurímac Abancay: (Sp.) overprint on Arequipa provisional stamp in Abancay, Peru, a town on the Apurímac River area west of Cuzco: “Principal Administration of Posts of the Department of Apurímac-Abancay.” 1885.
Admon. Pral. De Correos en Campeche: (Sp.) “Principal Administration of Posts in Campeche” inscription on provisional stamps of Campeche, Mexico, 1876.
Admon: (Sp.) administration.
Ados: one half of Barbados bisected stamp; see Barb.
Adresní Záznamní Lístek: (Czech.) address registration card (coupon).
Adressaten Okänd: (Swed.) addressee unknown.
Adressbrev: (Swed.) address letters, introduced in 1873 by noting on letters or postcards Härmed ett pakete (Herewith a parcel); they were stamped with the fee for the parcel postage.
Adresse Insuffisante: (Fr.) insufficient address, return to sender.
Adresse: (Fr., Ger.) address; place to which mail can be sent.
Adressförändring eller ĺtertagande: (Swed.) change of address or withdrawal.
Adresskort: (Swed.) address cards.
Adria-Alpenvorland: bogus, never issued 1945 German occupation locals printed in Vienna.
Adrianople: now Edirne, Turkey.
Adsons: term used for New Zealand stamps with commercial advertising on the back, 1893.
Adstamps: US stamps affixed to an advertising collar to affix to an envelope, 1980s.
Adsubia: local, Spanish civil war, Republican, 1937.
Aduna: (Sp.) revenue stamp for custom duties on imported goods; first issued in 1885s.
Advance deposit account: debit account into which a mailer deposits funds that are maintained by the postal administration and from which postage is later deducted at the time of mailing; also called trust account in some nations.
Advent Bay: rubber stamp cancel for Spitsbergen.
Advertised covers: an undelivered cover advertised by post office to locate recipient.
Advertised letter: letters marked with a special marking Advertised or ADV by U.S. postmasters during the 19th century connoting an ad was placed in the newspaper that the letter was not collected after a certain period of time; 1˘ could be charged by the paper, which was passed on to the customer; some postmasters charged more than the 1˘ fee they paid.
Advertisement pane: booklet or sheet of stamps with one or more stamp spaces used for an advertisement.
Advertisement: first ad from a collector looking to buy and exchange stamps published in Londons Family Herald, 1851.
Advertisements on postmarks: first used by Great Britain during WW1; 1963: Great Britain offered pictorial or slogan cancels for a fee.
Advertisements on stamps: Great Britain ads; 1881: first ad for Pears Soap imprinted on the back over the gum, several nations currently issue stamps depicting a commercial product.
Advertising collar: ads, printed on the envelope, shaped like a horseshoe to fit around the stamp.
Advertising cover: cover front that has advertising of a commercial product, hotel, etc.
Advertising label: label used to make up a full booklet pane advertising a commodity or service.
Advertising mail: USPS term, called Standard Mail as of Jan. 7, 2001.
Advertising postmarks: started during World War I as a propaganda tool.
Advice of delivery: international postal term allowing the sender, on payment of a fee, to be notified of the delivery of the item.
Adviesprijs: (Dutch) suggested bid.
Adygea, Republic of: illegal labels, purporting to be stamps, as per Jan. 14, 2002, Russian Federation report to the UPU; not valid for postage.
Adygeia: bogus Russian Federation Republic; local overprint and stamps.
Adzaneta de Albaida: local, Spanish civil war, Republican, 1937
Adélie (Coast) Land: French possession in Antarctica; includes Iles Amsterdam, Crozet, Kerguelan and Saint Paul; 1840: Jules S.C. Dumont dUrville discovered territory, 1948: Terre Adélie-Dumont Durville 1840 overprint on airmail stamp of Malagasy Republic, 1955: French claim section of Antarctic Adélie Land, but US does not recognize claim; stamps issued as French Southern and Antarctic Territories, 1998: administered from Paris, see French Southern and Antarctic Territories.
Aegaische Inseln: (Ger.) Aegean Islands.
Aegean Islands: odecanese island group in the Aegean, off the coast of Turkey; currency: 100 centesimi = 1 lira (plural lire) (1861), 100 cents = 1 euro (2002) 16th century-post: under Turkish rule, 1912-1932: Italian issues overprinted Egeo, Isole Italiane DellEgeo from various islands; includes: Calchi, Calino, Caso, Coo, Lero, Lisso, Nisiro, Patmo, Piscopi, Rhodes (Rodi), Scarpanto, Simi, and Stampalia, 1912: stamps of Greece used in parts of Turkey occupied by Greece (New Greece), Macedonia, Epirus, some of the Aegean islands, 1912, Oct. 8: Icaria (Nicaria) stamps issued after independence from Turkey, overprinted Greek Administration stamps issued June 1913, 1912-13: Limnos (Lemnos) overprint on stamps of Greece during occupation, 1912: Nov: Mytilene (Lesbos) overprint on stamps of Greece and Turkey during occupation, 1912, Nov. 14: Samos Provisional Government issued own stamps, 1913, May 13: Samos, Provisional Government, stamps overprinted Greece in Greek letters, 1913, May: Khios (Chios) overprint on stamps of Greece during occupation, 1916: stamps of Italy without overprints used, 1920, June 19-Aug. 21, 1920: stamps overprinted by French administration, 1920: Greece recognized Italian control of the islands, 1922, July 11: Castelrosso, stamps of Italy overprinted for use; 1924: formerly ceded to Italy, 1930: first air mail stamp, 1934: first postage due stamp issued, 1944-45: German occupation issues, 1945-47: British Middle East Forces occupation overprint MEF (Middle East Forces), 1947, Sept.: stamps of Greece overprinted SDD (Dodecanese Military Occupation).
Aegna: bogus issue, not valid for postage.
Aeores: (Fr.) Azores overprint and inscription on stamps of Portugal.
Aer-phost: (Ire.) air post.
Aerea: (It.) airmail overprint.
Aereo Sedta: (Sp.) Sociedad Ecuatoriano de Transportes Aereos Ecuador airmail overprint, 1938-40.
Aereo exterior: (Sp.) Guatemala overprint for airmail.
Aereo interior: (Sp.) Honduras overprint for official interior airmail.
Aereo: (Sp.) airmail overprint or inscription.
Aereotarg Poznan: (Pol.) Poland semi-official airmail stamps for Poznan, 1921.
Aerial Post: early British term for air mail.
Aero Club of Canada/Grand Army of Canada: semi-official airmail, Canada, 1918-20.
Aero Plane Special Safety Match: Swedish firms label used on mail as sticker, year unknown.
Aero correo: (Sp.) Honduras airmail overprint.
Aero oy: Finland inscription for 20th anniversary of Finnair, 1944.
Aerofilatelia: (Sp.) aerophilately.
Aerogram: see: Aérogramme.
Aerograma: (Sp.) airmail postal stationery, air letter sheet.
Aerogramm: (Ger.) airmail postal stationery, air letter sheet.
Aerogramme, military: mostly used by British Forces during World War II.
Aerogramme, official: used by government officials and departments.
Aerogramme, regular issue: with imprinted postage or airmail stamps.
Aerogramme, reverse die cutting: printed sheet of an aerogram placed in an inverted position when sheets are being cut.
Aerogramme, semi-official: inscriptions added with implied or tacit approval of the government.
Aerogramme, tablet: inscription on the front panel, usually reading Via Airmail etc.
Aerogramme, unwatermarked sheets: majority of aerograms are printed on unwatermarked sheets, while others do not show the watermark due to marks wide spacing.
Aerogramme: The official Universal Postal Union designation for an airletter sheet. These sheets, with gummed flaps, are written on and folded into themselves to form their own envelope and are carried at less than the letter airmail rate. No enclosures are permitted.
Aerogrammo: (It.) airmail postal stationery, air letter sheet.
Aerogramy: (Czech.) airmail postal stationery, air letter sheet.
Aerophilately: A specialized area of collecting concentrating on stamps or covers carried by air.
Aerophilately: branch of collecting that deals with airmail stamps and covers and their usage.
Aeroplane Station: circular date stamp for the Third Annual Aviation Meet, Oakland, Ca. sponsored by the Pacific Aero Club.
Aeroplane mail, first U.S.: mail was flown from Garden City, N. Y. to Mineola during the International Aviation Tournament, Sept. 23-30, 1911.
Aeroplane mail, first: the first flight took place from the United Provinces Exhibition Grounds at Allahabad, India to Naini Junction, five lies away on Feb. 18, 1911.
Aeroport International de Kandahar: Kandahar international airport, Afghanistan postmark.
Aeroport: (Rom.) Airport.
Aeroporto: (It.) Airport.
Aeropuerto: (Sp.) airport, used on postmarks.
Aerostato: (It.) balloon mail.
Aerotarg Poznan 1921: Poznan, Poland semi-official airmail stamps.
Aerovias Nacionales de Colombia: (Sp.) airline in Colombia; 1950-51: airmail stamps overprinted A for mail carried by AVIANCA.
Aerovias Nacionales: Puerto Rico semi-official airmail stamps.
Afars and Issas: Eastern Africa, formerly French colony of Somali Coast; now Djibouti Republic; stamps of this country can be found in these catalogs: Albany Stamp Company, Michel, Scott, Stanley Gibbons, Yvert & Tellier;currency:100 centimes = 1 Djiboutian franc (1967); 1896: organized as a colony, names of two tribes that inhabited the area, 1944: peace accord ended Afars rebellion, 1946: became territory within the French Union, 1958: member in the French Community, 1967-pre: French Somali Coast, stamps of Obock and Djibouti, 1967-77, Aug. 21: stamps inscribed French Territory of Afars and Issas, 1967, Aug. 21: first stamps issued, 1969, Aug. 21: first airmail, 1969, Dec. 15: postage due stamps issued, 1977, June 27: renamed the Republic of Djibouti, see Benadir, Djibouti, Obock, Oltre Giuba, Italian East Africa, Italian Somaliland, Somalia, Somalia Coast, Somalia Coast-French, and Somalia Coast Protectorate.
Afars and Issas: two tribes that inhabited the area.
Aff O: (Fr.) with Foreign Legion cross, overprint for Tunisia, may be private issue.
Aff. Excep Faute Timb: (Fr.) abbreviation on handstamp used provisionally in Ethiopia in 1911 during shortage of postage stamps
Affiches: (Fr.) public signs and posters; French Colony revenue inscription.
Affiliates, APS: organized for the study of specific area of philately.
Affix: fasten, such as affix a postage stamp to an envelope.
Affixing machines: mechanical devices used to fasten stamps to correspondence.
Affrancatura mista: (It.) mixed franking.
Affranch: official mail overprint used as precancellation in Andorra, France, Monaco, and Morocco; also overprint on some French stamps issued to officials for government mail.
Affranchi a lavance: (Fr.) pre-stamped.
Affranchi ainsi faute figurine: handstamp overprint on Madagascar and Diego Suarez during shortage of low values, may be private issue.
Affranchi mécaniquement: (Fr.) metered (mail).
Affranchi: (Fr.) stamped, prepaid.
Affranchir: (Fr.) to stamp, to frank.
Affranchissemente de fortune: (Fr.) make-shift franking.
Affranchissemente insuffusant: (Fr.) underfranked, insufficiently prepaid.
Affranchissemente mixte: (Fr.) mixed franking.
Affranchissemente mécanique: (Fr.) meter mark, meter postage.
Affranchissemente: (Fr.) franking, postage.
Affranchts: (Fr.) affranchissements, exempted from payment, pre-cancel marking on French stamps used for official or bulk mailings of business mail.
Affreville: now Khemis Mil, Algeria; see: Algeria.
Afganistan: (Swed.) Afghanistan.
Afghan, Afghanes: Afghanistan.
Afghanistan: central Asia, north and west of Pakistan; currency:12 shahi = 6 sanar; 3 abasi = 1 rupee (1871); 60 paisa = 2 kran = 1 rupee (1920); 100 puls = 1 afghani (rupee) (1926) post-18th century: unified state, 1871: issued first stamps as Kingdom of Kabul, 1881-1919: British domination, 1891-pre: no cancellations were available and issuing clerk tore or cut out a piece of the stamp to prevent reuse, 1891: first registration stamps, 1891-July 1973: stamps for the Kingdom of Afghanistan, 1907: regained its autonomy, 1909: first official, parcel post stamp issued, 1919: became independent, 1927: used inscription Afghan Postage, 1928, April 1: joined Universal Postal Union, used inscription Afghanes Postes, 1938, Dec. 22: first postal tax stamp issued, 1939, Oct.: first air mail stamp issued, 1952, July 12: first semipostal stamp issued, 1973, July 29: first issue as republic, used inscription, Afghan Post, 1978: Soviet coup overthrew government, 1979, Dec.: Soviet Union invaded nation, 1989: government stopped issuing stamps, 1989-92: Russian troops withdrew and rebels fought among themselves, 1997: Taliban, Islamic regime, occupied most of nation, 2002: Taliban driven out of power by U.S., other nations.
Afgooye: inscription showing location of area depicted on 1980 stamp of Somalia.
Africa Occidental Espanola: (Sp.) Spanish West Africa inscription.
Africa Orientale Italiana: (It.) Italian East Africa inscription.
Africa correios: Portuguese territories overprint on the 1898 issue.
Africa del Sur: (Sp.) South Africa.
Africa, Portuguese: 1898: first commemorative stamp, 1919: first semi-postal stamp, 1945: first postage due stamp.
Africa: inscription on Portuguese territories 1898 issue.
African Postal Union: common theme on stamps of the French Community of Nations, 1963, 1967, 1971, 1973.
African and Malagasy Union: common theme on stamps of the French Community of Nations, 1962.
Afrika Corps label: used to control number of packages mailed to Germany by members of the Africa Corps forces in World War II; each individual was allowed two labels a month.
Afrika: (Ger.) Africa.
Afrique Central Anglaise: (Fr.) British Central Africa.
Afrique Equatoriale Franeaise: (Fr.) French Equatorial Africa overprint on stamps of Gabon, Middle Congo.
Afrique Equatoriale Franeaise: (Fr.) inscription on French Equatorial Africa.
Afrique Equatoriale Gabon: (Fr.) Gabon Equatorial Africa.
Afrique Franeais Libre: (Fr.) Free French Equatorial Africa overprint and inscription.
Afrique Franeaise Combattante: (Fr.) French Equatorial Africa soldier surcharge; 1943: Red Cross semi-postals.
Afrique Occid le Française: (Fr.) inscription on postage due stamps of Senegal.
Afrique Occidental Espagnole: (Fr.) Spanish West Africa.
Afrique Occidental Espanola: (Sp.) Spanish West Africa.
Afrique Occidental Franeaise: (Fr.) French West Africa; overprint: see: A.O.F.
Afrique Occidental: (Fr.) Portuguese province, joined the UPU Jan. 1, 1922, left Nov. 11, 1975.
Afrique Orientale Allemande: (Fr.) German East Africa.
Afrique Orientale Anglaise: (Fr.) British East Africa.
Afrique Orientale Italienne: (Fr.) Italian East Africa.
Afrique Orientale: 1. (Fr.) German East Africa overprint; 1918: Belgian Congo Charity issue stamps. 2. (Fr.) Portuguese province joined the UPU Jan.1, 1922, left Oct., 11, 1978.
Afrique Sud-Ouest Allemande: (Fr.) German South-West Africa.
Afrique del(du) Sud: (It., Fr.) South Africa.
Afrique: (Fr.) Africa.
Afstempeling: (Dutch) canceled.
Afwijking(en): (Neth.) variet(ies).
Agata: (It., Sp.) type size in printing, agate (color).
Agate: printing size of a type, 5 ˝ point, called ruby in England.
Agence postale: (Fr.) postal agency.
Agencia filatelica oficial (AFO): (Sp.) Barcelona (Spain) Republican Government official philatelic agency.
Agencia postal (AG.P.): (Sp.) sub-post office, postal agency.
Agencia postal auxiliar (Ag.p.aux.): (Sp.) auxiliary postal agency, usually found on monastery cancels.
Agencies consulaires: (Fr.) consular agencies; French Colony revenue inscription.
Agency: 1) The extraterritorial post offices maintained at various times by governments in the territory of other governments. Examples are the post offices maintained by many European powers in the Turkish Empire until 1923. 2) An official or private organization that publicizes or sells new issues of stamps on behalf of stamp-issuing entities.
Agency: 1: a commercial firm that promotes and sells the postal products of the country or countries it represents, 2: a post office maintained in one countrys territory by another country.
Agentes de Corona: (Sp.) Crown Agents (Great Britain).
Agenti della Corona: (It.) Crown Agents (Great Britain).
Agents: individuals, acting on behalf of a post office, collected incoming mail and departure mail, or en route of a boat or train; may have used postal markings and entered items into the mail stream.
Agentur: (Ger.) agency.
Agenzia dei piroscafi Ottomania: (It.) Ottoman Steamship agency, Turkish Steamship Company, 1840-62.
Agenzia dei vapori Ottomania: (It.) Ottoman Steamship agency, Turkish Steamship Company, 1840-62.
Agets de la Couronne: (Fr.) Crown Agents ( Great Britain).
Aggstein, S.S.: steamship of the Danube Steam Navigation Company; 1890s: built for the upper Danube lines.
Aging: an artificial test to determine the relative permanence of paper or other materials.
Agosto: (Port., Sp.) August (month).
Agotado: (Sp.) sold out.
Agram: now Zagreb, Yugoslavia.
Agramunt: local, Spanish civil war, Republican, 1937.
Agrandi: (Fr.) enlarged.
Agricoltura: (It., Sp..) agriculture, theme or topic.
Agricultural: (Sp.) triangular stamps issued by Uruguay for farmers parcels, 1929
Agriculture, Dept. of: US inscription, official use.
Agrisado: (Sp.) grey (color).
Aguacaltes: overprint used on stamps of Mexico for this district during 1856-1883.
Aguascalientes: District of Mexico; 1914: issued revolutionary provisional overprint Gobierno Constitucionalista.
Aguascaltes:used as a district overprint in Aguascalientes, 1856.
Aguilas: local Spanish civil war, Republican, 1937.
Aguinaldo: Philippines, local revolutionary issue of 1898.
Aguja: (Sp.) pin hole.
Agujeritos: (Sp.) perfins.
Agäische Inseln: (Ger.) Aegean Islands.
Agüera, La: part of Spanish Sahara, Africa; 1920-1923: used Spanish Rio de Oro stamps overprinted La Agüera, 1924 stamps of Spanish Sahara.
Ahmnos: Greece, Lemnos Islands.
Ahnangsel: (Ger.) tab, attached.
Ahnängsel: (Ger.) tab (attached to a postage stamp).
Ahua: bogus, fantasy stamp from Burma.
Ahuesado: (Sp.) off-white (color).
Aidez les Tuberculeux: (Fr.) Tunisia surtax overprint semi-postal for tuberculosis.
Aigle: (Fr.) eagle..
Aiguafreda: local, Spanish civil war, Republican, Republican, 1937
Aigurande: local, provisional, French, 1944.
Aihefilatelisti: Finnish language philatelic periodical from Finland.
Aims of Industry: United Kingdom strike local post, 1971.
Air 6˘ Mail: overprint on the 2˘ regular and 2˘ Bi-Centennial envelopes of 1932 were revalued, in 1945 as a provisional air mail envelope due to shortage of embossed air mail envelopes.
Air Afrique: common design on stamps of the French Community of Nations, 1961-62, 1963, 1966.
Air Charters G.I.S.: United Kingdom strike local post, 1971.
Air Express: flown by the Air Express service operated by the Railway Express Agency (U.S. or Great Britain) for expedited delivery by air.
Air Labels: Air labels, or etiquettes, are standard-sized blue labels used by UPU member nations to denote airmail carriage. They are inscribed Par Avion (French for By Airmail). The text usually includes the same message in the language of the native country. Air labels also are adhesives issued by private organizations for specific, unofficial flights. See also Semiofficial.
Air Lift stamp: $1.00 U.S.1868 issue for shipping packages to service personnel overseas.
Air Mail Beacon: series of lights placed along air mail routes for safety and success of night flights; 1924.
Air Mail Field: postal facility at an air mail field.
Air Mail Indicator: British stamps with red and blue diagonal stripe to indicate air mail.
Air Mail Postal Card: a postal card intended for air mail usage.
Air Mail Semi-Official Stamp: privately printed stamps used for private flights in balloons or planes.
Air Mail Stamped Envelope: a stamped envelope intended to be used for air mail service.
Air Mail covers: envelopes with imprinted or other postage stamps used for air mail service.
Air Mail rotary set: refers to the 1995 series from Panama issued to mark the 50th anniversary of the founding of Rotary international.
Air Mail/De Pinedo/1927: overprint on stamp of Newfoundland to frank letters carried by Francesco De Pinedo on May 23 transatlantic flight.
Air Post: in Russian, used as an overprint for Imperial Russian consular tax stamps in 1922 applied to mail sentfrom Russia to Germany; see: Deruluft.
Air accident cover: British term for crash cover.
Air card: card, of regulation size for postal use, carried by air.
Air cover: an envelope which has been carried by air; known as a flown cover.
Air envelope: an envelope with a blue and red series of markings printed around the edges.
Air express stamp: stamp, issued especially for prepayment of air delivery.
Air hole flaw: flaw caused by an air hole in cooling metal stamp plates.
Air label: labels inscribed Par Avion or equivalent that means by air; 1918, Aug. 17: France had the first example in black on red paper, 1922: U.P.U. adopted a standard blue color for these etiquettes for affixing to material carried by air.
Air leaflets: propaganda leaflets dropped from balloons or airplanes.
Air letter form: special letter sheet with, or without, impressed stamp, to facilitate the handling of airmail letters.
Air letter: see: Aerogramme.
Air mail semi-postal stamps: air mail stamps used to raise money for charity.
Air mail stamp, earliest U.S.: the 1918 Jenny series of three stamps.
Air parcel post: started in 1948, lower rates made it a less extensive alternative for sending packages by air.
Air: Canada, inscription for airmail.
Airgraph: microfilmed letter form used by British forces during WWII; established April 22, 1941 as a military service and later extended to civilian mail, discontinued in July 1945. Microfilm of original letter was flown, then enlarged and printed on a special form at its destination.
Airlift flight: flight carrying mail and supplies to inaccessible location due to blockade or enemy occupation of normal routes.
Airlift for our Servicemen: inscription, see Airlift stamp.
Airlift: movement of mail by air taxi operators and air carriers.
Airmail border: colored bands on cover border indicating airmail service.
Airmail flight cover: cover carried by air and postmarked at point of origin, departure or intermediate points on the route.
Airmail flight: first U.S. private contract with mail flew from Detroit, Mich. to Cleveland, Ohio and Chicago, Ill. in 1926.
Airmail labels: 1: Mozambiques label had space for insertion of air mail fee, 1932. 2: labels used to mark letters or packages for shipment by air; also known as etiquettes.
Airmail stamp, first: Italy issued an adhesive air mail stamp for the Turin-Rome flight on May 19, 1917.
Airmail stamp, semi-official: issued privately, but accepted by the postal agency; the Canada Jack V. Elliot Air Services and others are examples.
Airmail stamp: stamp intended to prepay airmail postage; the first recorded is the 25c rose Italian express stamp, 200,000 of which were overprinted in 1917; Flugpostmarke (Ger.), Timbre pour la Poste Aerienne (Fr.), Francobollo di Posta Aerea (It.), Sello de Correo Aereo (Sp.).
Airmail: 1: official: first official airmail flew on Feb. 11, 1911 between Allahabad and Naini, India. 2: inscription on stamps of many nations for mail carried by air. 3: any form of mail transported by air.
Airmail: The carriage of mail by air. The first regular airmail service began in 1870, when mail was carried from Paris, France, then besieged by German forces, over enemy lines by balloon. The first airmail stamp was issued by Italy in 1917.
Airplane: symbol overprint indicating airmail issues.
Airport International de Kabul: inscription on airmail stamp of Afghanistan.
Airport dedication cover: cover commemorating the opening of an airport.
Airpost: Newfoundland inscription for airmail.
Airship mail: 1: lighter-than-air (LTA) craft characterized by a rigid, covered framework, interior of which holds containment cells for the lifting gas, such as a Zeppelin. 2: non-rigid LTA craft, the form of which holds the lifting gas, such as a blimp.
Airstream: British Post Office term for bulk mailings by air.
Airway Letter stamps: issued by British Airways for transporting letters between airports.
Airway letter: flown by a private air letter service operated by an air-line.
Aitutaki: one of the Cook Islands, South Pacific; currency:12 pence = 1 shilling; 100 cents = 1 dollar (1972) dollar 1888: British protectorate, 1892-1903: used Cook Islands stamps, 1903, Jan.20: No. 1,1/2 penny green; Aitutaki overprint on stamps of New Zealand, used until 1932, 1920: distinct Aitutaki inscribed stamp issued, 1927, Aug.: last stamps issued inscribed Aitutaki, 1932-72: used Cook Island stamps, 1972, Apr.1: Cook Islands stamps withdrawn, 1972, Aug.7: Aitutaki overprint on stamps of Cook Islands, 1973: Aitutaki inscription on stamps,1974, Sept.9: first air mail stamp issued, 1974, Dec. 2: first semipostal stamp issued,1978: first official stamp issued, O.H.M.S. overprint.
Aix-la-Chapelle: now Aachen, Germany; 1748: treaty ending the War of the Austrian Succession, signed giving Austria control of Belgium, Prince Anselme Franeois de Taxis made General des Postes.
Ajakiri: (Est.) Newspaper.
Ajanlos, Ajl.1, Ajl.2, Alahlas: Hungary inscription for registered letters, 1946.
Ajans-Turk: printer of stamps of Turkey.
Ajaria: province of Georgia, borders on Turkey; aka Adscharia and Adjarija.
Ajedrez: (Sp.) chess thematic.
Ajman State: bogus issues for Ajman.
Ajman: Ajman: one of the United Arab Emirates, Oman Peninsula on the Persian Gulf; currency:100 naye paise = 1 rupee (1964); 100 dirhams = 1 riyal (1967) 1892-1971: sheikdom under British protection, 1964, June 20: No. 1, 1 naye paise multi; first stamp issued, 1964-71: proliferation of more than 6,000 stamps issued, 1965: first air mail, official stamps issued, 1971, Dec. 2: joined the United Arab Emirates (UAE), 1971-post: Ajman stamps, overprinted Manama are not recognized by the government, 1972: UAE issues; Ajman issues post 1972 are not recognized.
Ajore: Albania airmail stamps.
Ajouté: (Fr.) added.
Ajánlott levél: (Hung.)registered mail, certified mail.
Akassa: city in Southern Nigeria; 1888 to 1899: handstamp on stamps of Great Britain by the Royal Niger Company.
Akata: bogus, fantasy from the Philippines.
Akd-hrvatski Tiskarski Zavod: printer of stamps of Croatia.
Akhal: bogus issue, not valid for postage.
Akhmin: Egypt, see: Interpostal seals, 1884.
Akhtyirka: Russian town in Kharkov Oblast (now Ukraine) ca. 65 miles WNW of Kharkiv. Issued local Rural Post stamps (1872), see Zemstvo Issues.
Akko: formerly Acre, Israel.
Akron Match Co.: private die match proprietary stamps.
Aktiebolaget Produktion Service (APS): Swedish perforating machine that made pimples, which were then cut away in a lawn mower type action leaving perforated holes.
Aktiebolaget Stadsposten: see Stockholm - Aktiebolaget Stadsposten.
Akyab: now Sittwe, formerly Burma, now Myanmar; see: Myanmar.
Al Arabiyah as-Saudiyah: now Saudi Arabia; see: Saudi Arabia.
Al Bahrayn: now Bahrain; see: Bahrain.
Al Canaveral: (Sp.) (place of canes) inscription on postal stationery envelopes provided by the Cuban government for use by urban residents transported each year to work in the sugarcane harvest.
Al Khums: also known as Homs, Libya.
Al Kuwayt: also known as Kuwait.
Al Madinah: also known as Medina, Saudi Arabia.
Al Manamah: also known as Manama, Bahrain.
Al Mittente: (It.) (return) to sender.
Al Mukha: also known as Mocha, Yemen Arab Republic.
Al dorso: (Sp.) back, as opposed to the front of a philatelic object.
Al mittenti: (It.) (return) to sender.
Al verse: (Fr.) back, as opposed to the front of a philatelic object.
Al-Araish: City in Morocco decreed a Cherifien Post town (1892), see Larache.
Al-Jadida: (or El Jadida) City in Morocco decreed a Cherifien Post town (1892), see Mazagan
Al-Saudia: overprint on stamps of Hejaz, territory located today in Saudi Arabia.
Ala.: abbreviation for Alabama prior to Zip Code usage.
Alameda: local, Spanish civil war, Nationalist,1937.
Alan George and Co.: United Kingdom strike local post, 1971.
Aland Islands: province of Finland; Gulf of Bothnia, between Finland and Sweden; official name of postal administration: Posten pĺ Ĺland currency: 100 pennia = 1 Finnish marka (mk); 100 cents = 1 euro (2002) 1538: mail between Sweden and Finland went through Aland, 1901: Nicholas II of Russia decreed that all mail sent out of, including Alands, had to bear Russian stamps, 1918, Feb. 12: joined the UPU as part of Finland, 1921: awarded to Finland by the League of Nations, 1982, Feb. 5: nation had right to propose stamps to Finnish postal authorities, 1984, Mar.1: No.1, 10 pennia magenta; Aland stamps are not valid for postage in Finland. 1992: Aland assumed control of its own postage, 2001: stamps in Finnish markka valid through June 30, 2002, then changes to euros.
Alanis: local, Spanish Nationalist, 1937.
Alaouites, Alaquites: area part of Syria, Western Asia; currency:100 centimes = 1 piastre (1925) 1918-pre: Turkish territory, then occupied by French in 1918, 1920, Sept. 1: autonomous government, 1920-30: under French Mandate, 1925, Jan.1: No.1, 10 centimes violet-brown; air mail, postage due stamps; stamps of France surcharged Alaquites, 1925, Mar. 1: stamps of Syria overprinted Alaquites, 1925: first air mail and postage due stamps issued, 1930: renamed Latakia, 1931, July: first stamps as Latakia with Lattaquie overprint on stamps of Syria, 1936, Sept. 1: alloted to Syria, : 1937: stamps of Syria used, 1941: Latakia annexed by Syria; see Latakia, Syria.
Alaska Carrier Pigeon Mail Service Company: pigeon service between the gold fields of Alaska, $1 and $2 values, 1896.
Alaska Pacific Express Co.: used imprinted 2˘ envelope, to forward mail to Alaska.
Alaska: no postal service while in Russian hands; 1867: US bought territory from Russia; first P.O. in Sitka, 1884: district of Oregon, 1897: Dyea, Alaska and Dawson City, Canada established international exchange, 1900s: dog sleds carried mail on inland routes.
Alatyir: Russian town in Simbirsk Oblast (now Chuvash Rep., Russian Fed.) ca. 120 miles SW of Kazan. Issued local Rural Post stamps (1867, stamp usage discontinued in 1875), see Zemstvo Issues.
Alava: Basque province in Spain; issued its own stamps bearing the portrait of Don Carlos.
Alavit: (Dan.) Alaouites.
Alawiten: (Ger.) Alaquites.
Alayor: local, Spanish civil war, Republican, 1937.
Alb: 1. catalog abbreviation for album. 2. (Rom.) White (color).
Albacete: local, Spanish civil war, Republican, 1937.
Albanez: (Rom.) Albanian (adj.).
Albania centrale: Essad Pasha local stamps issued in central Albania, 1915.
Albania government in exile: bogus, freedom movement in exile, 1945-60s.
Albania, Free: bogus, government in exile, 1945-60s.
Albania: southeastern Europe, bordering on Adriatic Sea and Ionian Sea; currency: 40 paras = 1 piastre = grosch (1913); 100 qintar = 1 franc (1913); 100 centimes = 1 franc (1917), 100 qintar = 1 lek )19470, 100 old lek = 1 new lek (1965) 1861-81: under control of Turkey, Greece, 1870: Turkish stamps used; seven post offices, each with own handstamp, 1902-16: Italian stamps, Offices in Turkey, overprinted Albania with Turkish currency, 1909: each town, Durazzo, Scutari and Valona, received its own overprint, 1912, Nov. 28: declared its independence, 1913, Oct.-Nov: overprints on Turkey issues, 1913, June: No.1, 1 penny multi; first permanent stamp series, provisional government, 1914: Greece issued stamps for Epirus and Northern Epirus; overrun by various countries troops during WW I, Netherlands used stamps at Koritza (Korce, Korytsa) headquarters, Montenegro and Albania stamps postmarked for Scutari-Skador, Italy declared Albania an independent country, 1914, Feb. 23: first postage due stamp issued, 1914-18: Albania stamps used, 1915, Feb. 10: overprint in Arabic commemorating the day of capture of Dutch officers and cannons, 1919-28: became a republic, 1920: Albanian state established, 1922, March 1: joined the UPU, 1924, Nov.1: first semipostal stamp issued, 1925, Jan. 25: republic established by Ahmed Zogu, 1925, May 30: first air mail stamp issued, 1928, Sep.1: became a monarchy, 1939, March-1943: Italian occupation with stamps overprinted; Constituent Assembly 12 IV 1939 XVII for Albanian crown being offered to Italy, XVII is the 17th year of Fascist rule in Italy, 1940: special delivery stamp issued, 1940-42: Greece overprint for southern Albania (North Epirus), 1943-44: Italian stamps overprinted for German occupation, with some cities issuing their own stamps, 1944: provisional government established, 1945: Italian occupation stamps overprinted for new republic: see Qeverija Demokrat (ike) E Shqiperise 22-X-1944, 1946, Jan.: stamps issued as a Peoples Socialist Republic of Albania, 1991, April: Albanian Peoples Republic; see Mbledhja Kushtetuëse, Shtator.
Albania: “Komitetit te Qindreses” series of cinderellas usually with political leaders.
Albanie: (Fr.) Albania.
Albanien: (Cech., Dan., Ger., Nor., Swed.) Albania.
Albansk: (Dan., Nor., Swed.) Albanian.
Albanske skeppspost: (Swed.) Albanian ship mail (ship post).
Albanske skibspost: (Dan.) Albanian ship mail (ship post).
Albanske skipspost: (Nor.) Albanian ship mail (ship post).
Albany Letter Express: fantasy label by S. Allan Taylor, 1865.
Albany, Ga. 5 Paid: see: Confederate Postmasters’ Provisionals.
Albastra: (Rom.) Blue (color).
Albastru-cobalt: (Rom.) cobalt blue (color).
Albastru-gri: (Rom.) blue-grey (color).
Albastru-metalic: (Rom.) steel blue (color).
Albastru-negricios: (Rom.) blackish-blue (color).
Albastru-verzui: (Rom.) greenish-blue (color).
Albastru-violet: (Rom.) violet-blue, lilac-blue (color).
Albastru: (Rom.) blue (color).
Albastrui: (Rom.) bluish (color), see Azurat.
Albert Meyer Express Packet: (Ger.) private parcel carrier, Leipzig and 69 other cities, Germany, 1880s.
Albicios: (Rom.) Whitish.
Albino impression: occurs when two sheets of paper are fed into the printing press at the same time; the top sheet receives the full imprint and the lower sheet shows evidence of the indented impression, or when paper passes through while press is not inked or there is an obstruction.
Albino: An uninked impression made by a printing plate. Such errors are scarce on stamps. They are more often found on postal stationery.
Albino: without color, die impression on a stamp or stamped envelope where the ink has not been transferred to the paper.
Albo: (Sp.) album.
Albox: local, Spanish civil war, Republican, 1937.
Albrecht, S.S.: steamship of the Danube Steam Navigation Company; 1850s: built for the lower Danube lines.
Album Weed: In general, a forged stamp. It also refers to unusual items that resemble postage stamps but were not intended to pay postage, like publicity labels and bogus issues. Album Weeds is the title of a reference on forged stamps, written by the Rev. R. Brisco Earee.
Album Weeds: title of series of pamphlets on forged stamps, written in the 19th century, by Rev. R. Brisco Earee; name came from a weed that appears in the midst of a green lawn.
Album de Timbres-Poste: (Fr.) stamp album.
Album para Sellos: (Sp.) stamp album.
Album per Francobolli: (It.) stamp album.
Album: Albums are binders, usually with pages, for the mounting and display of stamps and covers. Albums come in many sizes, styles and themes. See the Album section in this almanac.
Album: book designed to hold stamps or covers.
Albumblatt: (Ger.) album page.
Albumen: (Ger.) light-sensitizing process of plate in printing process.
Albán: (Hung.) Albanian.
Albán: (Hung.)Albanian.
Albánia: (Hung.) Albania.
Albánie: (Czech.) Albanian.
Albánsky: (Czech.) Albania.
Alcala la Real: local, Spanish civil war, Nationalist, 1937.
Alcance Y. U. H.: Uruguay inscription for late fee, 1936.
Alcaniz: local, Spanish civil war, Republican, 1937.
Alcantarilla: local, Spanish civil war, Republican, 1937.
Alcaucin: local, Spanish civil war, Nationalist, 1937.
Alcazar de Cervantes: local, Spanish civil war, Republican, 1937.
Alcazar-Ouzzan: French local post in Morocco, 1896-97.
Alcazar-Wazan: Spanish local post in Morocco, 1897.
Alcazar:(or Alcazarquiver, now Ksar el Kebir) City in Morocco on the Mekinez-Tangier railroad line ca. 105 miles NE of Rabat. Cherifien post town by Sultan’s 1892 decree. Used distinctive octagonal handstamp for mails carried by runners, see Cherifien Posts.
Alcira: local, Spanish civil war, Republican, 1937.
Alcoholes: (Sp.) liquors; Spanish Morocco revenue inscription.
Alcools: (Fr.) alcohol, liquors; French Colony revenue inscription.
Alcover: local, Spanish civil war, Republican, 1937.
Alcoy: local, Spanish civil war, Republican, 1937.
Alcudia de Carlet: local, Spanish civil war, Republican, 1937.
Aldabra, Kingdom of: bogus, atoll north of Assumption Island.
Aldea de Ascaso: local, Spanish civil war, Republican, 1937.
Alderney: English Channel Island, Guernsey Dependency; 1958: Guernsey regional issues for franking of packages carried between the island and Guernsey, 1969: issued stamps for Alderney, 1983: first stamps; usually at the rate of one set per year, many local post items exist.
Aledschen, Alsedziai: Lithuanian city; 1941: German military overprint on Russian stamps Laisa/Alsedziai/24-VI-41.
Aleksandrów: (Pol.) City ca. 4 miles NE of Lodz. Produced 29 mm diameter postpaid “10 fen” local City Post (violet) handstamp inscribed “Poczta Miejska w Aleksandrowie” (1915/1918).
Alemania Oriental: (Sp.) East Germany.
Alemania: (Sp.) Germany.
Alende: Mexican district provisional, 1914.
Aleppo: also known as Haleb, Syria.
Alerta: Peruvan district with hand written surcharge, 1884.
Alerta: see: Ancachs.
Alessandria: Syria, Egypt, 1864-84, see: Interpostal seals.
Alexadretta: now known as Skenderum, Turkey.
Alexander, W. and Sons: United Kingdom strike local post, 1971.
Alexanders Matches: private die match proprietary stamps.
Alexanderstadt: Ukranian city; 1941-42: Russian stamps overprinted/surcharged by the Germans 16.8.41/B.ALEX.
Alexandretta: Northern Syria, bordering on Turkey; 1918-38: Versailles treaty mandates territory to France, 1938: stamps of Syria overprinted Sandjak dAlexandrette, 1938: name changed to Hatay, 1939: stamps of Turkey surcharged for Hatay, see: Hatay, 1939: territory returned to Turkey.
Alexandrette: city in the Province of Syria; French post office in Ottoman Empire opened October 1852, closed 1889; reopened 1893, closed Aug. 1914.
Alexandria Blue Boy: Postmasters Provisional, Scott 1X2, 5˘ black on blue paper, Alexandria, Va. Postmaster issue.
Alexandria Steamship Agency: local, Levant, 1886.
Alexandria: 1: Virginia, USA, local Postmaster Provisional used in 1846. 2: also known as El Skandariya, Egypt. 3: (now Alexandriya) Russian town in Kherson Oblast (now Ukraine) ca. 45 miles ENE of Kirovohrad. Issued numerous local Rural Post stamps (1872-1888, the local post being suppressed in 1906), see Zemstvo Issues. 4: bogus issue from 1860s featuring an elephant. 5: Egypt, local, 1888? 6: city in Egypt; 1830-1931, Mar. 31: French Post Office handled mail brought in by mail boats, 1899-pre: regular French issues used, 1899-1930: French stamps with Alexandrie overprint used.
Alexandrie: (Fr.) 1899-1900 overprint used in French Offices in Egypt; see: Alexandria.
Alexandrien: (Ger.) Alexandria.
Alexandroupolis: city in Greece used French stamps; 1893-1903: Turkey named city Dedeagh, issued occupation stamps, 1913: Greece changed name to Dedeagatch, issued occupation stamps; see: Dedeagh.
Alfabetizacion: Ecuador overprint for Adult Education.
Alfarnate: local, Spanish civil war, Nationalist, 1937.
Alfarnatejo: local, Spanish civil war, Nationalist, 1937.
Alforja: local, Spanish civil war, Nationalist, 1937.
Algarinejo: local, Spanish civil war, Nationalist, 1937.
Algarismo: (Port.) figure, numeral.
Algarrobo: local, Spanish civil war, Nationalist, 1937.
Algatocin: local, Spanish civil war, Nationalist, 1937.
Algeciras: local, Spanish civil war, Nationalist, 1937.
Algemesi: local, Spanish civil war, Republican, 1937.
Alger: also known as Algiers or El Djezair, Algeria.
Algeria: French colony in North Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea; currency: 100 centimes = 1 franc (1924-64); 100 centimes = 1 Algerian dinar (1964) 1749: postal mark used in Spanish-occupied Oran, 1830: military post offices opened, used military handstamps, 1835: post offices opened to public, 1839: town names and dates issued to post offices, 1849: stamps of France used, 1907, Oct. 1: joined the UPU, 1924: No.1, 1 centime dark grey; stamps of France overprinted Algérie, 1924: first newspaper stamp issued, 1926: Republique Francaise Algerie (RF) replaced Algerian stamps, 1926: first postage due stamp issued, 1927: first semipostal stamp issued, 1946: first air mail stamp issued, 1958, Sept.1: became part of France, 1958-62: stamps of France used, 1962, July 3: Algeria became independent as Democratic/Popular Republic of Algeria.
Algerian red: cinderella used in movie The Truth About Charlie a remake of Charade.
Algeriet: (Swed.) Algeria
Algeriet: (Swed.) Algeria.
Algerisk: (Swed.) Algerian.
Algers Express: private local parcel, serviced Mass.; label, 1875.
Algier: (Ger.) Algeria.
Algiers: also known as Alger or El Djezair, Algeria.
Algimia de Alfara: local, Spanish civil war, Republican, 1937.
Alguna: (Sp.) couple (a pair).
Algérie: (Fr.) overprint and inscription on stamps of France for Algeria.
Algérienne: (Fr.) Algerian.
Alhama de Murcia: local, Spanish civil war, Republican,, 1937.
Alhama: local, Spanish civil war, Nationalist,1937.
Alhaurin de la Torre: local, Spanish Nationalist, , 1937.
Alhaurin el Grande: local, Spanish Nationalist, 1937.
Alhucema: (Sp.) lavender (color).
Alicante: local, Spanish civil war, Republican,, 1937.
Alice in Wonderland: labels made by Gerald M. King, 1965, 34 values and two varieties.
Alina: local, Spanish civil war, Republican,, 1937.
Alkaline reserve: the presence of calcium carbonate or other alkaline material in paper capable of neutralizing acids as they are formed.
Alkalmi Bélyegzéssel: (Hung.) special cancellation.
Alkazar kebir: (Sp.) municipal tax stamps, revenue issue.
All Russian Disabled Soldiers Relief Committee: charity label to raise money for former Red Army soldiers, 1921-1930, inscription in English for stamps sold in America.
All Souls College: Great Britain local post,1884.
All purpose cachet: general design that is applicable to various events.
All-over cachet: design that covers the envelope face.
All-over watermark: one pattern that covers the entire sheet of stamps.
All-purpose dating stamp: red ink handstamping device for imprinting the date, name of city, and the post office branch or station on registered mail and nonmail items such as receipts, USPS term.
All-up service: 1937 British Empire plan to transport all first-class mail via air at no extra charge; discontinued due to World War II, blue airmail label was not required; South Africa pioneered the concept and sold special post cards at the Empire Exhibition in 1936 which could be flown to any part of the world for 1/2d.
Allan Line: had contract to carry mail between Canada and England, 1855, operated as Montreal Steamship Co.
Allao: caused by overinking of Callao on stamps of Peru.
Alldex Agencies E.P.S.: United Kingdom strike local post, 1971.
Alleinflug: (Ger.) solo flight.
Allemagne Duitschland: (Dut.) Germany occupation overprint on stamps of Belgium, 1919-21.
Allemagne Rep. Fed. de: (Fr.) Germany, Federal Republic of.
Allemagne de lEst: (Fr.) East Germany.
Allemagne de lOuest: (Fr.) West Germany.
Allemagne: (Fr.) Germany.
Allemand: (Fr.) German.
Allen & Co.s Express: local post, serviced Boston, Bradford and Haverhill, Mass., used a label, year unknown.
Allen National P.S.: Alan George and Co.: United Kingdom strike local post, 1971.
Allen, Ralph: (1694-1794) received a G. B. contract in 1720 to carry all By Post and Cross Post letters with a regular service of three times a week at a speed of not less than five miles per hour; see: By Post, Cross Post.
Allen, Thos.: private die match proprietary stamps.
Allende: bogus, Mexican district issued a provisional in 1941 on the 50˘ 1910 issue.
Allens City Dispatch: U.S. local post, Chicago, Ill., 1882.
Allens, J. J. Sons: private die match proprietary stamps.
Allenstein: area in East Prussia; currency: 100 pfennig = 1 mark post-WW II: administered by the Allies, 1920, April 3: Germany district used stamps of Germany overprinted Plebiscite Olsztyn/Allenstein, 1920, July 11: No.1, 5 pfennigs green; became part of the German Republic, 1920, Aug. 20: stamps of Germany used, 1945: occupied by Soviet Union, then transferred to Poland, known as Olsztyn.
Allewelt: (Ger.) whole world.
Allgemein-sammler: (Ger.) general collector.
Allied Military Government (AMG): system of civil administration established by Allies towards the end of WW II as enemy-occupied territory was occupied; various stamps and overprints in different languages indicate the occupation.
Allied Military Government Stamps: AMG stamps for use in Austria, France, Germany and Italy after WW II.
Allied Military Post: stamps used by British and American zones; 1946: three general issues, same design; America (Bureau of Engraving and Printing); Britain (Harrison & Sons Ltd.) and Germany (G. Westermann).
Allied Military Postage: inscription for Allied Military Government, 1945-46.
Alliert Besetzung: (Ger.) allied occupation.
Alliert: (Ger.) allied.
Alligator Match Company: private die match proprietary stamps.
Allonge: (Ger.) blank perforated area, attached to a stamp.
Allseitig: (Ger.) on all sides, catalog description.
Allumettes: (Fr.) matches; French Colony revenue inscription.
Almachar: local, Spanish Nationalist, 1937.
Almaden de la Plata: local, Spanish Nationalist, 1937.
Almaguer: bogus, Colombia, fake Postmaster Provisional.
Almanac: British revenue stamps for use in America, 1765-66.
Almansa: local, Spanish civil war, Republican,, 1937.
Almargen: local, Spanish Nationalist, 1937.
Almazora: local, Spanish civil war, Republican,, 1937.
Almeria: local, Spanish civil war, Republican,, 1937.
Almindelig post: (Dan.) surface mail.
Almogia: local, Spanish civil war, Nationalist,1937.
Almohadilla de Entintar: (Sp.) ink pad.
Almond Private P.S.: United Kingdom strike local post, 1971.
Almoradi: local, Spanish civil war, Republican,, 1937.
Almunecar: local, Spanish Nationalist,, 1937.
Alofi Island: see: New Caledonia.
Alora: local, Spanish Nationalist,, 1937.
Alozaina: local, Spanish Nationalist, 1937.
Alpandeire: local, Spanish Nationalist, 1937.
Alpha: name given to flaws in the bicolored stamps of Denmark, 1870-85.
Alphabet letters: letters on issues of Great Britain starting in1858; letters were placed in all four corners, those in the upper portion of the stamp being the same as those in the upper corners, but in reverse order.
Alphabetizacion/Alphabetisation: (Sp., Fr.) Mexico and Haiti inscription to raise funds for the campaign against illiteracy.
Als Postsendung Nicht Befördert: (Ger.) “Not to be carried as mail” handstamps for handback service only.
Als Voren: (Neth.) similar lot.
Alsace and Lorraine: French border provinces; 1870-71: annexed by North Germany after Franco-Prussian War, 1870-72: provisional issue by Prussian army,1872-1918: regular German stamps used, 1918-39: French stamps reissued, 1920s: mourning label issued by German stamp dealer Sigmund Hartig, 1940-41: occupied by Germany, stamps of Germany overprinted Lothringen (German Occupation of Lorraine), 1942, Jan. 1: regular German stamps used, 1944-45, Jan.: reoccupied by France.
Alsace: French province; 1940: stamps of Germany overprinted Elsass (German occupation for Alsace), 1941-44: German stamps used, 1944-45: French (Allied Military Government) stamps used.
Alsacia-Lorena: (Sp.) Alsace-Lorraine.
Alt: (Ger.) old.
Alta Express Co.: private local post serviced west coast; used a label, 1857.
Alta Italia: local, Italian liberation, 1944.
Altai, Altaj, Altay: illegal labels, purporting to be stamps, as per Jan. 14, 2002 Russian Federation report to the UPU; local post overprint and stamps, 1993, not valid for postage.
Altai: bogus issue, not valid for postage.
Altar: city in Mexico, name used in oval marking indicates postage due.
Altbrief: (Ger.) pre-philatelic letter, stampless cover.
Altea: local, Spanish civil war, Republican,, 1937.
Altenburg: local, courier, German, 1893-1900.
Alterar: (Sp.) to alter or change.
Alterare: (It.) to alter or change.
Alteration: an attempt to change the identifying characteristics of a stamp by the addition or removal of design or perforation or by changing the characteristics of the paper.
Altered relief: repair of design damage.
Alternate cancel: any First Day cancellation from the official First Day city, other than the official First Day USPS postmarks.
Alternate delivery services: deliveries that do not require a letter carrier, such as post office box service, general delivery, carrier service and firm holdout, USPS term.
Alternative Del.-Birm.: United Kingdom strike local post, 1971.
Alternative Del.-Kent: United Kingdom strike local post, 1971.
Alternative Perforating System (APS): perforating machine made by Swedish firm that caused pimples, which were then cut away in a lawnmower type action leaving perforated holes.
Alternative Philately: collateral material other than regular postage stamps; such as cinderellas, fantasies, etc.
Alternative addressing format: includes congressional franked mail, occupant address, simplified addresses and exceptional addresses, USPS term.
Alternative fuel vehicles (AFV): USPS term for vehicles that run on natural gas, electricity and grain-based fuels.
Alto commissariato: (It.) top, head commission; 1940: Italian overprint on stamps of Yugoslavia for Lubiana.
Alto: (Sp., It.) high as in high values, top.
Alto: copper shell, when removed in the printing process, leaves a relief copy of the design.
Altona: local, German, 1865, 1888-89, 1892, 1898-1900.
Altération: (Fr.) fading (color); falsification (stamp).
Altére: (Fr.) faded, dimmed (color).
Aluiten: (Ger.) Alaouites.
Alum solution: used as a wash in printing plate manufacture.
Alum: aluminum sulfate, an acid salt used to retain rosin sizing in paper. Alum is acidic when dissolved in water and is a primary source of acid in paper.
Aluminum foil: bonded to paper to form a laminate that bears the stamp design.
Aluminum plates: thin metal plates used for offset printing.
Alvey, John Durham: postmaster to the Revolutionary Army, 1775-83; heirs had to sue for back salary.
Alwar: India (Native) Feudatory State; also known as Rajasthan or Rajputana; 1877: No.1, 1/4 anna ultra; issued its own local post stamps, now part of India, 1902: separate stamps discontinued, 1950, Apr. 1: replaced by stamps of the Republic of India.
Am. (American) Rapid Tel. Co.: U.S. telegraph stamps issued for use on own firm’s telegrams,1881.
Amani: India States term for collection of revenue by government servants.
Amarelo: (Port.) yellow (color).
Amarillo cromo: (Sp.) chrome yellow (color).
Amarillo: (Sp.) yellow (color).
Amatongaland: see: Union of South Africa.
Amazonia: bogus, Brazil, connected with the bogus state of Counani, 1901.
Amb Asc.: (Sp.) ambulante ascendente postmark for trains going up the line.
Amb Desc.: (Sp.) ambulante descendente postmark for trains going down the line.
Ambon: local overprint, Japan Naval Control, 1942-45.
Ambulance bag: general term to describe a variety of bags used to enclose damaged mail by the postal service.
Ambulance cover: envelope used to carry and deliver a severely damaged piece of mail such as a crash cover.
Ambulance laquintinie: surtax overprint for Free French Army ambulances; 1941: with value in francs, for Cameroun.
Ambulante: (Fr., Bel.) poste ambulante overprint on stamps of Belgium and France used for a mobile post office.
Ambulante: This word means moving in Spanish and other Romance languages. It appears in cancellations and indicates that the item was processed by a mobile post office.
Ameca: local provisional, Mexico, 1870.
Ameixa: (Port.) plum (color)
American Air Mail Society (AAMS): formed in 1926 from the Aero Philatelic Society of America, USA.
American Bank Note Company: New York printers of postage stamps incorporated on May 1, 1858 by Mssrs. Rawdon, Wright, Hatch and Edson.
American Bank Note Company: Printed U.S. stamps from 1879 until 1894 as well as the Overrun Countries and other issues.
American Bank Note Holographics: produced hologram patches for US postage stamps.
American Ceremony Program Society (ACPS): members collect USPS first day, supplemental (second day or later), invitations, official souvenirs and presentation albums.
American Colonial post offices: established in Boston, Mass., 1639.
American Commemorative Cancellations: as of May 2002, USPS name for first-day souvenir page programs.
American Commemorative Collections: as of May 2002, USPS name for first-day ceremony programs.
American Delivery Co.: local post serviced Boston, Mass., used a label, 1910.
American Design Series: USPS definitive stamp series started in 2002 with the Toleware coil.
American District Package & Baggage Express: local post; used a label, year unknown.
American District Telegraph Co.: local post serviced New York City, used stamps; 1880s-1900s.
American European Express Co.: private parcel delivery firm that serviced eastern U.S. and European cities; used a label, year unknown.
American Expeditionary Forces:World War I American European forces had two different stamp booklets, each containing panes of 30 stamps.
American Express Co., Louisville, Ky: carried mail “across the lines” during the American Civil War.
American Express Company: U.S. local post, New York, N.Y., used stamps, corner cards and labels, 1850-1918.
American Fusee Company: private die match proprietary stamps.
American Guideline Society: forerunner of the United States Stamp Society.
American Letter Express Co.: carried mails from the North addressed to the South during the Civil War.
American Letter Mail Co.: U.S. local post, 1844, N.Y., Philadelphia and Boston, earliest adhesive stamp to pay postage between cities; earliest use of fancy cancels.
American Match Company: private die match proprietary stamps.
American Merchants Union Express Company: local post, used stamps and labels, 1868-73.
American Military Government Stamps: stamps issued by Allied Military Government after WW II for use in Austria, France, Germany and Italy.
American National Retail Jewelers Association: poster stamp promoting a convention in Providence, R.I.
American Packaging Corp.: subcontractor to Sennett Security Products for gravure printing.
American Philatelic Association: former name of the American Philatelic Society.
American Philatelic Center: new home in Bellefonte, PA, of the American Philatelic Society and the American Philatelic Research Library.
American Philatelic Expertizing Service: APS service that gives opinions on the genuineness of stamps and covers.
American Philatelic Research Library: library of the American Philatelic Society, APS, located in State College, Pa.
American Philatelic Society: largest stamp organization in the U.S.
American Pneumatic Service Co.: local post, serviced Boston, Mass., used labels; 1902-07.
American Postal Machine Co.: manufacturer of cancelling machines used from the 1880s to the 1940s.
American Postal Workers Union: union represents clerks and similar employees who work inside U.S. post offices; with headquarters in Washington, D. C.
American Red Cross: inscription on Christmas labels.
American Samoa: part of Gilbert and Ellice islands; 1900: America accepted control over the eastern islands, British and Germans over Western Samoa; mail from the islands can be recognized from the postmark.
American Shippers, Inc.: private parcel delivery firm, used stamps, area and years unknown.
American Treasures: series of U.S. stamps, stared in 2001 with the Amish Quilt series to illustrate existing art masterpieces.
American Zone: British, Russian and American occupying powers; 1946-48: one issue, overprinted with pattern of posthorns, for occupation of Germany, 1948-49: Deutsche Post inscription used.
Americana: theme collectors topic for American subjects commemorated on postal items.
Americky: (Czech.) American.
Americká Samoa: (Czech.) American Samoa.
Amerika-Suomalainen Legiona (ASL): American-Finns Legion; inscription for free mail for American troops fighting with the Finnish forces.
Amerika: (Czech., Dan, Nor., Swed.) America.
Amerikai Egyesült Államok: (Hung.) United States of America.
Amerikai: (Hung.) American.
Amerikanischer druck: (Ger.) American printing, refers to the Allied Military Government stamps for Germany printed in Washington, D.C. by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing.
Amerikansk (Dan., Nor., Swed.) American
Amerikansk Militärpost: em>(Swed.) United States field post office.
Amerikansk militärpost: (Swed.) United States field post office.
Amerikanske Sone: (Nor.) American Zone.
Amerikanske Zon: (Swed.) American Zone.
Amerikanske Zone: (Dan.) American Zone.
Amerikanske skeppspost: (Swed.) United States ship mail (ship post).
Amerikanske skibspost: (Dan.) United States ship mail (ship post).
Amerikanske skipspost: (Nor.) United States ship mail (ship post).
Amerikánsk Jomfruřerne: (Dan.) U. S. Virgin Islands (USVI).
Ameripex 86: once-per-decade stamp exhibition held in Chicago in 1986.
Ametralladora: (Sp.) Spanish civil war machine gun military company.
Amgraph Inc.: subcontractor to Westvaco Envelope Division for offset patches.
Amgraph Packaging Inc.: offset lithography printer for USPS.
Amiel Sima: automatic stamp vending machine initiated by Finland in 2001, uses a M over K for mark.
Amiens: French city; 1909, May 13-19: issued local provisionals issued by the Chamber of Commerce during a strike by postal employees.
Amil: India States term for contract revenue collector.
Aminci: (Fr.) thinned.
Amincissement: (Fr.) thinning, thin spots.
Amir-i-sadak: India States term for officer with jurisdiction over a hundred revenue officials.
Amiraute: (Fr.) admiralty.
Amis and Amants: bogus, Donald Evans issue, South Pacific Islands about friendship and love.
Amora: bogus, advertisement created to sell chocolates on Valentines Day.
Amorcé: (Fr.) encased (stamps).
Amoy:(now Xiamen or Hsia-men) Seaport in Fujian province in SE China on two islands in Taiwan Strait ca. 140 miles W of Taiwan. One of the five original Chinese Treaty Ports granted to Great Britain (1842). Hong Kong stamps used in Amoy are identified by the vertical “A1” (1859-1867) and horizontal “D.27” (1876-1884) numerical obliterator cacellations, or by the two different single-ring or one double-ring “ AMOY” circular datestamps (1867-1922), see Chinese Treaty Ports.
Amplio: (Sp.) ample or full, as in full margins.
Amposta: local, Spanish civil war, Republican,, 1937.
Amstar Co. Inc.: stamp printer for Philippines.
Amsterdao: (Port.) Portugal overprint to raise funds for Olympic team to go to Amsterdam.
Amtlich eroffnet durch die k.w. postdirection: (Ger.) German States official stamps for returned letters; Württemberg inscription.
Amtlich geöffnet bei der Devisenkontrolle: (Ger.) opened by the office for the control of currency, label used to reseal mail after being opened to check enclosure for currency, 1939.
Amtlich: (Ger.) official (post).
Amtliche ausgaben: (Ger.) official issues.
Amtlicher neudruck: (Ger.) official reprint.
Amtlicher verkehr: (Ger.) inscription of the official (dienst) stamps; 1881-1919: Württemberg.
Amtschreiben: (Ger.) official letter.
Amundsen Harbor: bogus, Antarctic fantasy.
Amur, Amur Province: Siberia USSR province; 1921: Peoples Revolutionary Committee stamps; also bogus issues exist; ended when Far Eastern Republic founded in same year.
Amure: Russian inscription; 1929, Feb.: for autonomous administration at Blagovestchansk, Amur province.
Amurskaya: illegal labels, purporting to be stamps, as per Jan. 14, 2002 Russian Federation report to the UPU; local post overprint and stamps, not valid for postage.
Amérique: (Fr.) America.
An, Année: (Fr.) year.
An-shun: local, Southwest China (Kwei-Yang), 1949.
Anachron, State of: bogus, Artistamps, dinosaur hunting stamps.
Anaglyptography: a process that produces an illusory 3-D effect such as hologram stamps.
Analogo: (It.) similar.
Analogue: (Fr.) similar.
Ananief: Russian town in Kherson Oblast (now Ukraine). Issued local Rural Post stamps (1875-1896), see Zemstvo Issues.
Anaranjado: (Sp.) orange (color).
Anatolia: Turkey in Asia; 1920: Turkish revenue stamps overprinted by Nationalist Government revolutionaries, 1923: Turkish republic formed and stamps of Turkey used.
Anbefale, anbefalet: (Dan.) register, registered.
Anbefalelsesmćrke: (Dan.) registration stamp.
Anbefalelsesseddel: (Dan.) registration label, registration etiquette.
Anbefalet brev, anbefalede breve: (Dan.) registered letter, registered letters.
Anbefalingsbebyr: (Dan.) registration.
Anbetalet Brev: (Den.) Registered Letter.
Anbieten: (Ger.) to offer.
Ancachs: Hairez, Peru postal district; overprint Franca used in 1884; see: A Certo.
Anchal: Postage used on Travancore-Cochin, Indian Feudatory State.
Ancho: (Sp.) broad, as in wide margins.
Anchor: 1: rivets, nails and screws used to secure the subject of a stamp to its wooden or metal mount; usually at non-printing height. 2: colored flaw caused by the inking and printing of an anchor rivet, nail or screw.
Anchor: watermark used in issues of Great Britain and Colonies.
Ancien: (Fr.) old, early, former.
Anciens Combattants: War Veterans, Tunisia overprint.
Anciliary service endorsement: marking used by a mailer to request the new address of an addressee and to provide USPS with instructions on how to handle mail that is undeliverable as addressed, USPS term.
Ancillary label: labels attached for commemorative purposes, not valid for postage.
Ancillary marking: marking applied to a cover to indicate additional assistance to allow its delivery.
Ancla: (Sp.) anchor, watermark used in issues of Great Britain and Colonies.
Ancora: (It.) anchor, watermark used in issues of Great Britain and Colonies.
Ancre: (Fr.) anchor, watermark and cancel used in issues of Great Britain and Colonies.
And.a alta: (Sp.) nineteenth century Spanish postmark.
Andalusia: eight provinces of Spain, issued stamp in 1868-70 by a provisional government.
Andaman & Nicobar Islands: part of India, twin island groups; when occupied by Japan in World War II, 1942-45, Indian stamps were overprinted by occupiers.
Andenkelblock: (Ger.) souvenir sheet.
Anders: (Ger.) otherwise.
Anderson C.(Court) H.(House) S.C. Paid 5: see: Confederate Postmasters’ Provisionals.
Anderung: (Ger.) alteration.
Andorra Francese: (It.) French Andorra.
Andorra Spagnola: (It.) Spanish Andorra.
Andorra, Spanish rule, forged issue: 1928 overprint on King Alfonso XIII, Sc. 2-12.
Andorra: independent state between France and Spain, no postage charge for internal mail; currency: 100 centimos = 1 peseta, 100 centimes = 1 French franc = 1 Spanish peseta, 100 cents = 1 euro, 1928-pre: stamps of Spain or France used, 1928: No.1, 2 centimos olive-green; Spanish post service established, overprint Correos Andorra,1929, Nov. 25: first stamps issued, 1931, June 16: French post service established, postage due French stamps overprint Andorre, both nations stamps accepted as postage; see Affranch. 1931 June 16: No.1, 1 centime gray: first postage due stamp (French) issued, 1932-42: used inscription Andorra, Vallees d, 1950, Feb. 20: first air mail stamp (French) issued, 1951, June 27: first air mail stamp (Spanish) issued, 1964, July 25: first semipostal stamp (French) issued.
Andorre: (Fr.) 1931 overprint on postage due stamps of France for Andorra.
Andreotti Press: seven-color gravure press acquired by U.S. Bureau of Engraving and Printing 1970.
Andresen Local Post: see Christianssund - M. Andresen Local Post.
Andrews Express: local post, serviced Boston, Mass to Portland, Maine, used a label, 1843-45.
Andruck: (Ger.) proof, trial printing.
Andujar: local, Spanish civil war, Republican,, 1937.
Aneinanderhängend: (Ger.) joined together.
Anfeuchten: (Ger.) to moisten.
Anfänger: (Ger.) beginner.
Angebot: (Ger.) an offer.
Angebote: (Ger.) bid sheet.
Angefertigt: (Ger.) made to order.
Angeklebt, Angekl: (Ger.) pasted on, affixed.
Angesschitten, Angeschn: (Ger.) close borders, no margins, cut into.
Angle: (Fr.) corner.
Anglet: bogus, France-supposed republic for dogs.
Angleterre: (Fr.) England.
Anglie: (Czech.) England.
Anglo American Drug Co.: U.S. private die medicine proprietary stamp.
Anglo-Girl E.P.S.: United Kingdom strike local post, 1971.
Angola government in exile: bogus, supposed freedom issues for Angola; a Henry Stull fantasy; once listed in Ohio telephone book under Stamps for Collectors.
Angola: former Portuguese territory in southwest Africa; official name of postal administration: Empresa Nacional de Correios Telégrafos de Angola currency:100 reis = 1 milreis,100 centavos = 1 escudo (1913), 100 lweys = 1 kwanza (1977), 1870: No.1, 5 reis black, 1893: first newspaper stamp, 1904: first postage due stamp issued, 1925, May 8: first semipostal stamp issued, 1938, July 26: first air mail stamp issued, 1975, Nov. 11: became independent from Portugal, as Peoples Republic of Angola, 1977, March 3: joined the UPU, 1986: during a civil war, labels titled UNITA for rebel faction issued, 1991, Sept. 19: first semi-postal; see Cabinda.
Angola: many bogus topical issues exist; animals, flowers, millennium, trains, Papal visit, 2000, Sept. 25: reported to the UPU.
Angolo di foglio: (It.) sheet corner.
Angolo: (It.) corner.
Angora, Ankhara, Ankara: city in Turkey; 1921: Turkey overprint for city in 1921, 1922: special issues, 1923: Republic of Turkey established; used general issues for Turkey, 1930: named changed to Ankara.
Angra: Portuguese island group; 1892-1905: used colonial types, 1906-31: stamps of the Azores, 1931: stamps of Portugal; see: A. H. PD.
Angram: now known as Zagreb, Yugoslavia.
Anguilla: island in the Caribbean Sea, east of Puerto Rico, British territory; currency: 100 cents = 1 East Caribbean dollar 1904-1956: used stamps of St. Kitts-Nevis issue of the Leeward Islands Federation also valid in addition to stamps of St. Christopher-Nevis-Anguilla, 1967, Sept. 4.: No.1, 1/4 cent brown; independent Anguilla overprint on stamps of St.Kitts-Nevis, 1969: Anguilla stamps issued.
Angulo: (Sp.) corner, as in corner of a stamp.
Angweela, free: bogus, parody of Anguilla overprints.
Anhangsel: (Ger.) attached label.
Anhaufung: (Ger.) accumulation.
Anhwei: China province provisional stamps, 1949.
Anhyphenate: without hyphen, applied to early issues of the Union of South Africa.
Anil: (Sp.) indigo (color).
Anilin: (Ger.) aniline.
Anilina: (Sp.) aniline.
Aniline ink: a water-soluble ink which fluoresces under ultraviolet light; such as used on Roosevelt Small Die Proofs.
Aniline: Ink with a coal-tar base. Such inks were used in stamp printing to prevent erasure of cancellations and reuse of stamps. Aniline inks are very sensitive and may dissolve in water or other liquids or chemicals.
Anilinerood: (Neth.) aniline red (color).
Animaux prehistorique: (Fr.) prehistoric animals (topic).
Anirtida: (Sp.) antarctic.
Anjouan: one of the Comoro Islands, Mozambique Channel, French territory; currency: 100 centimes = 1 franc 1892: No.1, 1 centime blue; French colonial stamps inscribed Sultanat dAnjouan, 1912-1950: stamps of Madagascar and Dependencies, 1950: stamps of Comoro Islands, 1958-74: stamps of Malagasy Republic, 1974: became part of the Islamic Federal Republic of Comoros, 1997, Aug. 3: became independent; see Comoro Islands.
Ankara: bogus, Turkish capital with stamps issued after World War II by nationalist Revolutionists.
Ankara: formerly Angora, Turkey, see: Angora.
Ankauf: (Ger.) purchase.
Ankaufreis: (Ger.) purchase price.
Anker: (Ger.) anchor, watermark used in issues of Great Britain and Colonies.
Ankerstempel: (Ger.) French cancel showing anchor instead of numeral.
Anklben: (Ger.) to adhere.
Ankomststempel: (Dan.) arrival cancellation, receiving datestamp, receiving postmark.
Ankunft, Ank: (Ger.) arrival.
Ankunftsort: (Ger.) place of destination.
Ankunftspostamt: (Ger.) post office of arrival.
Ankunftsstempel: (Ger.) postmark of arrival, backstamp, distribution cancel.
Anlass: (Ger.) reason for holding (show).
Anmeldt: (Dan.) marking that recipient was notified that letter was being held at post office.
Annaba: formerly Bone, Algeria.
Annabon: see: Assobla.
Annahmestelle: (Ger.) receiving office.
Annam and Tonkin (Tongking): area in French Indo-China, China Sea, French Colonies; currency: 100 centimes = 1 franc1888, Jan. 21: French Colonies stamps handstamped / surcharged A & T, 1887: Annam became part of the Union of Indo-China, 1888, Jan. 21: No.1, 1 centime brown; first stamps issued, 1892: stamps of French Indo-China, 1936: Indo-China had one issue for Annam, WW II: occupied by Japan, 1945: north (Tonkin) used Peoples Republic of Vietnam, 1954-75: south (Annam) used Republic of Vietnam, now part of Viet Nam; see A and T, A&T.
Annan und Tongkong: (Ger.) Annam and Tonkin.
Annapolis: Maryland, U.S., Postmasters Provisionals envelope issued in 1846.
Annas: currency unit in Mesopotamia.
Annecy: local provisional, France,1944.
Annemasse: local provisional, France, 1944.
Annexe: (Fr.) sub-office (bureau, post).
Anniversaire: (Fr.) anniversary.
Anniversary stamp or cachet: postage stamp or design on cover that commemorates an anniversary.
Annobon: Equatorial Guinea, formerly Spanish territory; 1903: joint issue for the islands of Annobon, Elobey and Corisco, 1909: replaced by stamps of Spanish Guinea.
Annonce: (Fr.) advertisement.
Annual folder: formerly produced by non-US postal administrations for the press and other interested parties with details of stamps issued during course of one year.
Annual: yearly.
Annuel: (Fr.) yearly.
Annulamento manuale: (It.) canceled, handstamp.
Annulare: (It.) to cancel.
Annuler: (Fr.) to cancel.
Annullamento de compiacenza: (It.) canceled to order, stamps cancelled by postal authorities without having been used for postage.
Annullamento: (It.) term used to denote a cancellation marking.
Annullato sbarrato: (It.) barred cancel with stripes.
Annullato verso: (It.) backstamp marking on the back of a philatelic object.
Annullato: (It.) cancelled.
Annulleret: (Dan.) postmarked, cancelled.
Annullering: (Dan., Nor., Swed.) postmark, cancellation.
Annullierung: (Ger.) cancellation.
Annullo (dubbio): (It.) cancellation (suspicious)
Annullo Contraffato: (It.) forged cancel.
Annullo Fiscale: (It.) fiscal, revenue cancel.
Annullo a Mezzaluna: (It.) crescent cancel.
Annullo a Numero: (It.) numerical cancel.
Annullo a penna: (It.) pen cancellation.
Annullo di Primo Giorno: (It.) first day cancel.
Annulé: (Fr.) cancelled.
Anné demission: (Fr.) year of issue.
Année Mondiale du Réfugié: (Fr.) Year of the Refugee, overprint on stamps of Switzerland for United Nations.
Ano: (Sp.) year.
Anomalie: (Fr.) abnormality.
Anormal: (Fr.) abnormal.
Anotacion: (Sp.) Colombia registration issue design.
Anotado:handstamped overprint used on Mexico 1868 issue, (privately printed from government plates on government presses) of the 1868 issue. This handstamp legitimized these issues into valid stamps. They are scarce and forgeries abound.
Anping: Seaport ca. 180 miles SSW of Taipei (formerly Taihoku or Daihoku), close to Tainan. Chinese Treaty Port granted to Great Britain (1860). Transferred to Japanese control (1895), at which time the Treaty Port rights were cancelled. Hong Kong stamps used in Anping are identified by the single-ring “ANPING” circular datestamp (1889-1895), see Chinese Treaty Ports.
Anschlussbahnhof: (Ger.) connecting railway station.
Anschrift: (Ger.) address.
Ansichtskarte, amtliche: (Ger.) official picture postcard.
Ansichtskarte: (Ger.) picture postcard.
Ansichtssendung: (Ger.) approval.
Anstreicher: (Ger.) painter, as a theme or topic.
Anstrich: (Ger.) serife, a fine line of a letter such as cross lines at top or bottom of I.
Antakya: formerly Antioch or Hatay, Turkey.
Antananarivo: British Madagascar hand stamp for mail inscribed British Consular Mail Anatananarivo now known as Tananarive, Madagascar.
Antarctic Expedition stamp: special stamp issued in connection with an expedition to the South Pole regions.
Antarctica 1954 Expedition: bogus Australia souvenir labels.
Antarctica, Russian, Ukranian: illegal labels, purporting to be stamps, as per Jan. 14, 2002 Russian Federation report to the UPU; local post overprint and stamps, c1998, not valid for postage.
Antarctica: philatelic material issued in connection with South Polar regions.
Antarctique Britannique: (Fr.) British Antarctic Territories (B.A.T.).
Antarktis: (Dan., Ger., Nor.) Antarctic. see Sydpolen (Nor.)
Antarktisz: (Hung.) Antarctic.
Ante (de): (Sp.) before.
Anteado: (Sp.) buff, brownish-yellow (color).
Antequera: local, Spanish Nationalist and Republican,1937.
Anthrax: contagious deadly powder found in U.S. mail during 2001.
Anti-Graham Wafers: small circular paper wafers used to seal envelopes, Great Britain, 1844.
Anti-malaria: slogan used in 1962 to commemorate the United Nations World Against Malaria campaign.
Anti-tuberculosis seal: a charity label sold to raise funds to combat T.B., resembles a stamp but is not valid for postage.
Anti-tuberculosis stamp: postage stamp with a surtax for fighting T.B.; earliest issued by New South Wales in 1897, inscribed Consumptive Home sold at twelve times face value.
Anticuado: (Sp.) obsolete.
Antidaté: (Fr.) predated, antedated.
Antigoa: (Fr.) Antigua.
Antigua and Barbuda: islands between Caribbean Sea and North Atlantic Ocean; currency: 100 cents = 1 EC dollar 1981, Nov. 1: became independent as Antigua and Barbuda, which includes islands of Antigua, Barbuda and Redonda; 1994, Jan. 20: joined the UPU; see Antigua.
Antigua: Pig Farming; unissued Great Britain cinderella by David Horry, 2001.
Antigua: island in the West Indies; currency: 12 pence = 1 shilling, 20 shillings = 1 pound, 100 cents = 1 West Indian dollar (1951), 1858-60: British stamps used, 1862: No.1, 6 pence blue-green; issued own stamps, 1890-1903: Leeward Islands stamps, 1903-56: Leeward Islands and Antigua stamps, 1916: first semipostal (War Tax) stamp issued, 1956: became a Crown Colony, 1967: became self-governing as an Associated State of the U.K., 1981, Nov. 1: became independent as Antigua and Barbuda, which includes islands of Antigua, Barbuda and Redonda; see Antigua and Barbuda.
Antikamnia Chemical Co.: inscription on Medicine stamps; see Private die proprietary stamps.
Antillas: (Sp.) Antilles, 1855-71, such as Puerto Rico and Cuba.
Antilles Danoises: (Fr.) Danish West Indies.
Antilles Neerlandaise: (Fr.) Netherlands Antilles.
Antioch: now known as Antakya, formerly, Hatay, Turkey.
Antioquia: originally a state, now a department in Colombia; 1868-1904: issued a large variety of its own stamps.
Antiqua: bogus Donald Evans issue, Maine.
Antique Dealer: United Kingdom strike local post, 1971.
Antique type: a printer’s type with short serifs of the same thickness as the body of the letter.
Antwerp: also known as Anvers, Belgium.
Antwort, Antw: (Ger.) reply.
Antwortpostkarte: (Ger.) paid reply postal card.
Antwortpostkartenbrief: (Ger.) paid reply letter card.
Anulación: (Sp.) cancellation.
Anulado con arana: (Sp.) cancelled with spider type canceller, 1850s.
Anulado con barras: (Sp.) cancelled with bars.
Anulado: (Sp.) cancelled.
Anular: (Sp.) to cancel.
Anus: Finnish name for Olonets, town in Russia, 1917-18: overprint on stamps of Finland for Finnish occupation.
Anvers: also known as Antwerp, Belgium.
Anverso: (Sp.) obverse, front or face of a stamp.
Any: printed matter overprint on hyper inflated issues of Hungary in 1946 for use of postage prepayment.
Anzac commemoration: overprint for Australian-New Zealand Army Corps.
Anzahl: (Ger.) number.
Anzeigebrief: (Ger.) advertising letter.
Aoűt: (Fr.) august.
Ap, Apax, Apaxmai: postal tax surcharge on stamps of Greece, 1942-56.
Apa Offset: printer of stamps of Turkey.
Apagado: (Sp.) dull or faded (color).
Apaisado: (Sp.) horizontal shaped.
Apam: overprint used on stamps of Mexico for this district during 1856-1883.
Aparecido en buzon: (Sp.) marking applied to items that should have been handed into the post office but were found in the mail box; such as a registered item.
Apartado de correos: (Sp.) post office box.
Apartado postal: (Sp.) post office box.
Apartados particulares: (Sp.) private post office box.
Apeadero, A P: (Sp.) postmark indicating small railway station.
Apfelgrün: (Ger.) apple green (color).
Apolda: local, Apolda, Stadtpost German 1945, Courier 1893-95, Express 1886-96.
Apollo Service: United Kingdom strike local post, 1971.
Aportacion voluntaria: (Sp.) Spain charity labels.
Apparié: (Fr.) matched.
Appendice di propaganda bellica: (It.) war propaganda labels attached to Italian stamps.
Appendice: (It.) label.
Apple green: yellowish green (color).
Appleton, D. and Company: New York City, produced the first printed stamp album in 1863.
Appraisal: an estimate of value or price.
Approval proof: proof of a finished master engraving may be noted by inspectors giving approval to proceed in the printing process.
Approvals: Priced selections of stamps sent to collectors by mail. The collector purchases the items he chooses, returning the balance with payment for those kept.
Approvals: selection of stamps or covers sent to a collector for examination; usually must be bought or returned to the sender within a specified period of time.
Approved Capt. & Provost Marshal: censor marking on prisoners mail from Southern prison camps addressed to the North during the American Civil War.
Apres le depart: (Fr.) after departure, too late.
April: (Dan., Ger., Neth., Nor.) April.
Aprile: (It., Rom.) April.
Aprilis: (Latv., Hung.) April.
Aprill: (Est.) April.
Aprins: (Rom.) bright (as referencing the color of a postage stamp).
Apuntes Filatelicos: Spanish language philatelic periodical from Argentina.
Apurimac: Arequipa, Peru provisional overprint, 1885; Chilean occupation of Peru.
Ar gaisa pastu: (Latv.) Airmail.
Arab Government of the East: Arabic inscription, Jordan issues, 1920-25.
Arab Union: political linking of Iraq and Jordan; issued stamp in 1958.
Arabesque: stamp design formed of inter woven plants, flowers or foliage.
Arabia Saudita: (Sp.) Saudi Arabia.
Arabia: 1: bogus, triangular stamp issue of Arabia from the 1920s. 2: also known as Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Arabian (Persian) Gulf: see: Muscat and Oman.
Arabic gum: gum from the acacia plant, shrub or tree, collected in the arabic district.
Arabie Soudité, Royaume de l’: (Fr.) inscription used on stamps of Saudi Arabia,1934-66.
Arabie Soudité: (Fr.) Saudi Arabia.
Arabien: (Dan., Ger., Swed.) Arabia.
Arabien: (Dan., Swed..) Arabia.
Arabisk: (Nor., Dan., Swed.) Arabian.
Aracena: local, Spanish Nationalist, 1937.
Arad: 1: county and city in W Romania on the Mures River ca. 245 mi WNW of Bucharest. A Turkish fortress outpost in the 1600s, belonging to Austria after 1685, and ceded by Austria to Romania in 1919 after WWII. Administered by French; issued postage stamps in 1919 by overprinting Hungarian stamps with Occupation française. 2: steamship of the Danube Steam Navigation Company;1860s: for the middle Danube lines.
Aragon: local, Spanish civil war, Republican,, 1937.
Aramoana: bogus, independent state in New Zealand,1981?
Aran, Republic of, Aran Islands: bogus, Ireland overprint made in 1967.
Arana: (Sp.) first Spanish cancels which looked like a spider, started using March 1850..
Arancio: (It.) Orange (color).
Arancio: (It.) orange (color).
Arancione Chiarro: (It.) light orange (color).
Arancione Lucente: (It.) bright orange (color).
Arancione Oscuro: (It.) dull orange (color).
Arancione Palido: (It.) pale orange (color).
Arancione Rossa-Brillante: (It.) bright orange-red (color).
Arancione Rossa: (It.) orange-red (color).
Arancione Scuro: (It.) dark orange (color).
Arancione di Cadmio: (It.) cadmium orange (color).
Arancione-Bruno Oscuro: (It.) dull orange-brown (color).
Arancione-Bruno Scuro: (It.) dark orange-brown (color).
Arancione-Bruno: (It.) orange-brown (color).
Arancione-Giallo: (It.) orange-yellow (color).
Arancione: (It.) orange (color).
Aranybarna: (Hung.) auburn-brown (color).
Aranypart: (Hung.) the Gold Coast.
Arbah: bogus, one of the Sicmon Islands in the South Pacific created by Nick Bantock for his book, Griffin & Sabine.
Arbe: 1920, Nov.- Dec. 1920: Fiume overprint.
Arbeitsgemeinschaft, Arge: (Ger.) philatelic study group for a particular area of collecting.
Arbeitslager: (Ger.) labor camp.
Arbitrios: (Sp.) duties or taxes.
Arbrite Deliv. E.P.S.: United Kingdom strike local post, 1971.
Arc roulette: separation in which curved cuts appear as a semi-circle.
Arc: 1: (Fr.) Canadian set of King George V of 1930-31 to differentiate them from previous series. 2: form of rouletting where the slit is formed in a semi-circle; paper is cut, not removed in making an arc roulette.
Arch issue: The King George V Canadian stamp featuring an arch.
Arch: (Czech.) Sheet of stamps.
Archena: local, Spanish civil war, Republican,, 1937.
Archeologia: (It..) archaelogy, theme or topic.
Archeologie: (Fr.) archaelogy, theme or topic.
Archer and Daly: printer in Richmond, Va.; printed stamps for the Confederate government.
Archer perforation/roulette: method of separating stamps, devised by Henry Archer, by punching tiny circles of paper.
Arches: watermark seen on French-Area artist’s die proofs.
Archez: local, Spanish civil war, Nationalist, 1937.
Archidona: local, Spanish Nationalist, 1937.
Archipel des Comores: (Sp.) see: Comores.
Archipielago de Colon: bogus, Ecuador.
Architektur: (Ger.) architecture, theme or topic.
Architettura: (It.) architecture, theme or topic.
Archival paper: paper manufactured to provide resistance to the effects of natural aging.
Archival: properties of any material in contact with covers or stamps that will not degrade with time.
Archäologie: (Ger.) archaelogy, theme or topic.
Arco: (Sp.) arc, as in arc perforated or rouletted.
Arcoudi: bogus, Greek island stamps repudiated by government in 1963.
Arctic Air Emergency Flight: bogus, Alaska, local.
Arctische post: arctic post; 1897: Spitzbergen local post by Captain W. Bade.
Ardales: local, Spanish Nationalist, 1937.
Ardatof: Russian town in Nizhni-Novgorod Oblast (now Nizhegorod Oblast). Issued 40 different local Rural Post stamps (1878-1914), see Zemstvo Issues.
Ardatov: local, Russian Zemstvo, 1878-1814.
Ardesia-Azzurro: (It.) slate-blue (color).
Ardesia-Bruno: (It.) slate-brown (color).
Ardesia-Giallo: (It.) slate-yellow (color).
Ardesia-Lilla: (It.) slate-violet (color).
Ardesia-Oliva: (It.) slate olive-green (color).
Ardesia-Porpora: (It.) slate-purple (color).
Ardesia-Verde: (It.) slate-green (color).
Ardesia-Violetto: (It.) slate-violet (color).
Ardesia: (It.) slate grey (color).
Ardezie: (Rom.) slate grey (color).
Ardoise-Bleu: (Fr.) slate-blue (color).
Ardoise-Brun: (Fr.) slate-brown (color).
Ardoise-Jaune: (Fr.) slate-yellow (color).
Ardoise-Lilas: (Fr.) slate-lilac (color).
Ardoise-Mauve: (Fr.) slate-blue (color).
Ardoise-Oliv: (Fr.) slate olive-green (color).
Ardoise-Vert: (Fr.) slate-green (color).
Ardoise-violet: (Fr.) slate-violet (color).
Ardoise: (Fr.) slate-blue (color).
Ardoyne Relief Comm.: United Kingdom strike local post, 1971.
Ardósia-Amarelo: (Port.) slate-yellow (color).
Ardósia-Azul: (Port.) slate-blue (color).
Ardósia-Lilás: (Port.) slate-lilac (color).
Ardósia-Oliva: (Port.) slate-olive green (color).
Ardósia-Pardo: (Port.) slate-brown (color).
Ardósia-Púpura: (Port.) slate-purple (color).
Ardósia-Verde: (Port.) slate-green (color).
Ardósia-Violeta: (Port.) slate-violet (color).
Ardósia: (Port.) slate grey (color).
Area Distribution Center (ADC): mail processing facility that receives, processes and distributes mail destined for specific ZIP Code area, USPS term.
Arenas de San Pedro: local, Spanish civil war, Nationalist, 1937.
Arenas: local, Spanish civil war, Nationalist, 1937.
Arendal Bypost: Arendal Bypost: Norway local post, 1885-91.
Arendal: Norwegian seaport on the Skagerrak (also Skagerak) arm of the E central North Sea and seat of Aust-Agder county ca. 125 miles SSW of Oslo. Local post established by G. O. Ulleberg, with first Arendals-Bypost bicolored lithographed local stamps issued 9 November 1885, and with others issued through 1888. An Arendals / Bypost / Aviser handstamped GOU newspaper local stamp was issued on 1 January 1886. The local post was continued by N. Herlofsen, who in 1890 reissued the original Arendals-Bypost local stamps, but with recognizable plate retouches.
Arenys de Mar: local, Spanish civil war Republican, 1937.
Arequipa: city in Peru; 1881: overprint on stamps of Peru for Chilean occupation, 1884-85: issued stamps by forces opposing the government.
Arevalo: local, Spanish civil war, Nationalist, 1937.
Arf: (Fr.) marking applied to Austrian border mail before stamps.
Argelia: (Sp.) Algeria.
Argent: (Fr.) silver, money, cash.
Argentin: (Hung.) Argentinian.
Argentina, occupation of Falkland Islands: 1982: issued commemorative stamp.
Argentina: (Hung.) Argentina.
Argentina: southern South America; official name of postal administration: Correo Argentino; currency:100 centavos = 1 peso (1858), 100 old peso = 1 new Argentine peso (1970), 1,000 pesos = 1 austral (1985); stamps of this country can be found in these catalogs: Cat. De Sellos Postales Argentinos, Filatelia Argentina, Kneitschel, Michel, Scott, Stanley Gibbons, Yvert et Tellier; 1856, Aug. 21: stamp released by Corrientes Province, 1858-80: separate issues by several Argentine provinces, 1858, May 1: No.1, 5 centavos red; first stamps of Argentine Confederation; see A-U, 1862, Jan. 11: stamps of Argentine Republic, 1878, April 1: joined the UPU, 1884: first official stamp, 1928, March 1: first airmail stamp issued, 1944, Jan.5: first semipostal issued.
Argentine State Mint: printer of stamps of Argentina.
Argentine: 1. (Fr.) Argentina. 2. Argentine: (Nor.) Argentinian
Argentinec: (Czech.) Argentinian.
Argentinien: (Dan., Ger., Swed.) Argentina.
Argentino: (It.) Silvery (color).
Argentinsk: (Dan, Nor., Swed..) Argentinian
Argentinsky: (Czech.) Argentina.
Argintiu: (Rom.) silver (metallic color).
Argo, S.S.: steamship of the Danube Steam Navigation Company; 1834: for the lower Danube lines.
Argyrokastron: now Gjirokaster, Albania; had Turkish stamps surcharged when city was occupied by Greece, 1914.
Ariary: 1976 currency unit in Madagascar.
Ariche: Egypt, see: Interpostal seals, 1884.
Arino Polesine: local, Italian liberation, 1944.
Ariz.: abbreviation for Arizona prior to Zip Code usage.
Arizona mail: regular mail service through Arizona to the Pacific Coast, August 1856-61
Arjona: local, Spanish Republican, 1937.
Ark: 1, (Dan., Nor.) sheet (of stamps). 2. abbreviation for Arkansas prior to Zip Code usage.
Arkrand: (Nor.) sheet margin.
Arktakning: (Dan.) harrow perforation, see Perforering - Ark
Arktandning: (Swed.) harrow perforation.
Arktisk: (Nor., Swed.) Arctic.
Arkusik(i): (Pol.) sheetlet.
Arkusz(e): (Pol.) sheets.
Arma: (It., Sp.) arms, weapons, as a theme or topic.
Armath: Egypt, see: Interpostal seals, 1879-80.
Armavir: Russian city had two stamps surcharged by local authorities in 1920.
Arme; 1: (It.) coat of arms. 2: arms, weapons as a theme or topic.
Armed Guard: marking on mail from group of enlisted Navy men assigned to protect merchant and cargo vessels.
Armee: (Ger.) army.
Armeebriefstelle (ABSt.): (Ger.) army postal station.
Armeefeldpostmeister: (Ger.) army field postmaster.
Armeegruppe (Agr): (Ger.) army group (post).
Armeekorps, A.K.: (Ger.) army corps.
Armeepostamt: (Ger.) army post office.
Armenia, forged issues: 1: 1920 Chassepot, unissued. 2: 1922 Erevan, unissued without surcharge, Sc. 300. 3: 1922 Mount Ararat, unissued without surcharge, Sc. 301.
Armenia: southwestern Asia, east of Turkey; currency: 100 kopecks = 1 rouble (1923), 100 lumas = 1 dram (1993) 1828: incorporated into Russia, 1918: Russian Armenia proclaimed Soviet Republic, 1918, May 26: independence proclaimed, 1919: No.1, 60 kopecks orange, stamps of Russia handstamp 1920: incorporated into the USSR, former member of Trans-Caucasian Federation of Soviet Republics with Azerbaijan and Georgia, 1921, Feb-Apr.: issued own stamps, 1920, Mar 12: joins Transcaucasion Federation, 1923, Oct.1: superceded by stamps of Soviet Union, 1991, Dec.26: Soviet Union breakup, joined the former Soviet Republics to form the Commonwealth of Independent States, 1992, Sept.14: joined the UPU.
Armenie: (Fr.) Armenia.
Armenien: (Ger., Swed.) Armenia.
Armenisk: (Swed.) Armenian.
Armensteuermarke: (Ger.) fiscal stamp for the poor.
Armenwet: overprint of stamps of The Netherlands; 1913: for official use for Poor Law Administration.
Armia Polska we Wloszech: (Pol.) Polish Army in Italy handstamp, 1943-1946.
Armistice cover: covers postmarked on Nov. 11, 1918, marking the end of World War I.
Armoiries: (Fr.) coat of arms.
Arms types: stamps bearing coats of arms or heraldic devices for a topical or thematic collection.
Armstrongs Express: local post connected with the Boston & Albany Railroad; used a label, 1867-1900.
Army Post Office: An official United States post office for use by U.S. military units abroad. An army post office or military post office is set up to distribute mail to and from military personnel. Locations are indicated by numbers only to prevent revealing personnel locations. The locations become generally known after a war is over.
Army flights: 1: air mail flights flown by U.S. Army pilots from May 15 - August 11, 1918 when civilian pilots took over. 2: emergency period in 1934 when President F.D. Roosevelt cancelled CAM contracts and army air corps pilots carried the mail.
Army frank: U.S. privately produced label by an army officer during Spanish-American War, purported to be official 1898.
Army of the North: became part of Army of the Northwest; 1919: fought against Soviet forces in Petrograd (St. Petersburg).
Army of the Northwest: 1919, June-Nov.: fought against Soviet forces in Petrograd (St. Petersburg).
Army of the West: formed by Germany to restore German landowners 1919, Nov.: attacked Riga, was defeated and dissolved.
Army official: 1: Sudan overprint, officials, 1905. 2: Great Britain Foreign Offices overprint; 1896-1904: Paymasters and War Office.
Army post office: military postal facilities for serving men and women in the armed forces, staffed by military personnel.
Army post: British forces overprint used in Egypt in 1936.
Army service: Sudan overprint.
Armze dItalie: French military post handstamp used in Switzerland, 1798-1806.
Armze de Grisons: French military post handstamp used in Switzerland, 1798-1806.
Armze de Suisse: French military post handstamp used in Switzerland, 1798-1806.
Armée dOrient: handstamp for mail in war against Russia in 1854.
Arnold & Co.: private die match proprietary stamps.
Arnsberg: local, Germany, 1945-48.
Aroche: local, Spanish civil war, Nationalist, 1937.
Arohez: local, Spanish civil war, Nationalist, 1937.
Aromatherapy: collection of medicinal plants on stamps.
Aromatic stamp: stamp that gives off an aroma, most famous is the Switzerland chocolate issue of 2001, which, when scratched, had an aroma of chocolate.
Arona Libera: local, Italian liberation, Allied occupation, 1944.
Arosa: Switzerland hotel post, 1897-1993, Hotel Victoria.
Arpa: Romania Postal Tax stamps. |
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