GLOSSARY OF PHILATELIC TERMS

AIRMAIL STAMPS
Stamps issued mainly for use on air letters, though in many countries they may be used on any other kind of mail to the same value
APPROVALS
Stamps sent to collectors by a dealer, mounted & priced in booklets, or stock cards from which he invites you to choose those you want and pay cash when returning the rest
BARS
A type of cancellation which does not automatically mean that the stamp has been used in the post. Some countries use parallel black bars to cancel remainders of sets no longer in use
BISECTED
Stamps ‘chopped in half ` during a shortage of those of lower value.
BLOCK
Four or more stamps joined together.
BOOKLETS
Small cardboard folders with stamps inside
BOURSE
A gathering of a group of dealers & collectors for trading stamps.
CANCELLATION
Any official mark made on a stamp – whether a postmark, or an ink mark.
CANCELLED-TO-ORDER (CTO)
Stamps postmarked & still having the original gum. Issued by countries but intended for postal use.
CATALOGUE VALUE
This means the value of your stamp according to the experts. These are the leading dealers – such as Stanley Gibbons in Great Britain, Scott in America, – who calculate the value upon the price they would charge if you went to buy the stamps from them.
CHALKY PAPER
Several countries used to print their stamps on paper surfaced with chalk. If damped, the design floats off. The purpose was to prevent people washing off the postmark and using the stamp again.