Terms Used In Expertizing
To help collectors better
understand the information on The Philatelic Foundation's certificates
of opinion, the PF's Expert Committee has developed definitions
of terms it uses in the opinions on the certificates it issues.
The definitions reflect the experience and comments of the PF's
current consultants among collectors, dealers and auctioneers.
| Gum |
| Original Gum |
Gum which is in the original
state as applied by the printer. |
| Never Hinged |
Full original gum as applied by the printer
and which is free from any disturbance. Cognizance will be taken
of the normal gum condition for each issue. Gum skips, bubbles
or other natural gum irregularities including short gumming
will be cited where these are considered to be significant. |
| Previously Hinged |
Original gum with disturbances which have
occurred since the gum was applied by the printer. Included
are stamps with hinge remnants, hinge marks on the gum, or with
moisture spots on the gum. Cognizance will be taken of the normal
gum condition for each issue. Gum skips, bubbles or other natural
gum irregularities including short gumming will be cited where
these are considered to be significant.
Where the gum shows noticeable effects of damp or humid conditions
(glazed original gum, mount glazed original gum or stamps lightly
stuck on the gummed side) such stamps would be described as
previously hinged. When significant in nature such conditions
may be specifically mentioned on a certificate (see below).
Where the gum has been manipulated, including redistribution
or when it is significantly disturbed such conditions will be
specifically mentioned on a certificate. |
| Redistributed Original Gum |
Gum which has been moistened and re-spread
to present the appearance of a non-hinged surface. |
| Disturbed Original Gum |
A stamp on which the character of the gum
is substantially changed, with no intent to cover defects or
hinging. |
| Part Original Gum |
A stamp with noticeable original gum missing. |
| Traces of Gum |
Small amounts of gum insufficient to determine
whether original to the stamp. |
| Glazed Gum |
Original gum in an altered state due to
its softening and reforming, often while in a plastic mount. |
| Tropical Gum |
Original gum which has been altered and
often discolored from its original state, due to interleaving
adhering to the gum of the stamp or to conditions that allow
for fungal growth. |
| Ungummed |
Usually not addressed on certificate. A
stamp without gum as issued. |
| Foreign Matter Adhering To Gum |
Indicates foreign material, which is not
a hinge, adhering to the gum surface. |
| Regummed |
A process where gum has been replaced on
a stamp found without gum. This applies only to a stamp originally
issued with gum. |
| Stains & Toning |
| Toning Of Paper |
A marked yellowing or darkening
of paper due to natural or other causes. Unless otherwise qualified,
toning shows on the front of the stamp. |
| Fading |
A lightening of ink or paper due to natural
physical causes. |
| Staining |
A discoloration in the paper of a stamp. |
| Color-Affected Stamp |
A stamp whose color is changed or altered
from its naturally issued color. |
| Color Changeling |
A stamp on which the color has been dramatically
changed from its issued color either chemically or naturally,
e.g. a green stamp which has been changed to blue. |
| Cleaning |
The removal of foreign substance from a
stamp by any cleaning method. It is only mentioned when there
is a noticeable change in appearance. The term “Cleaning”
does not indicate the removal of a cancellation. |
| Bleached To Remove Staining |
The use of a chemical agent to lighten
or remove a discoloration or foreign substance from the paper
of a stamp. This usually results in a whitening of the paper. |
| Perforation |
| Privately Perforated |
Philatelically inspired perforations
not done to defraud collectors, e.g. private perforations on
newspaper special printings or on U.S. imperforate issues of
the 20th century made by people other than vending machine companies. |
| Unofficial Perforations |
Perforations done contemporaneously to
the issuance of a stamp, to facilitate the separation of the
stamps, without philatelic inspiration, e.g. Confederate issues,
Kansas City Roulettes, Chicago Perforations of the U.S. 1851
Issues and Private Vending and Affixing Machine Coils. |
| Imperforate Stamp |
Stamps sold by the Post Office without
perforations, either intentionally or accidentally. |
| Imperforate Between |
A pair of stamps with perforations on all
four sides, except those issues that come with a straight edge,
with either the horizontal or vertical perforations completely
omitted between the stamps. |
| Imperforate Horizontally Or Vertically |
A pair or larger multiple with horizontal
or vertical perforations completely omitted. |
| Reperforated Stamp |
A stamp on which the perforations have
been fraudulently added at a later time, by someone other than
the printer or issuing authority, to imitate, simulate or change
the original perforations. |
| Improved Perforation |
Where several perforations, but not all,
have been manipulated to enhance appearance, such as by the
punching out of unpunched perfs. |
| Pulled Perforation |
An instance where paper has been removed
below the base line of the perforation holes. |
| Short Perforation |
Usually not addressed on a certificate.
An instance where paper has been removed down to or very close
to the base line of the perforation holes. |
| Blind Perforations |
An indentation of the paper which is caused
by the perforating pin, but which does not break through the
paper, as opposed to a complete hole, e.g. a pair of stamps
which appear imperforate between but where the paper shows traces
of perforations. |
| Unpunched Perforation |
Usually not addressed on certificates.
A missing perforation hole which is due to a missing pin in
the perforator. |
| Trimmed Perforations |
A stamp with perforations cut away after
its issuance, but which originally had perforations in that
location. Normally not used to describe USA hard paper special
printings. (If an attempt to change catalog number has been
made, the certificate merits a "WARNING" handstamp.) |
| Straight Edge |
A stamp which naturally lacks perforations
on one to three sides; as issued by the Post Office. |
| Perforation Disc Indentation |
A depression which may be located anywhere
on a stamp, caused by an errant punched paper disc from a perforation
hole, creating a natural fault in the surface of the paper. |
| Partially Separated Perforations |
Where a substantial number, but not all,
of the perforations are detached between two or more stamps
of a multiple. |
| Rejoined Perforations |
Where separated perforations have been
reattached by means of a hinge, gum or other chemical substances. |
| Creases & Tears |
| Crease |
A folding of the paper creating
a physical deformity which shows as a dark line in fluid or
as a white line during drying. |
| Wrinkle/Bend |
Usually not addressed on certificate. A
visible physical deformity generally due to the printing process
or due to the uneven contraction of the gum on a stamp. It does
not show as a crease in fluid or dry. |
| Faint Crease |
Barely shows in fluid. It only shows as
a white line upon the fluid's drying. |
| Light Crease |
Visible in fluid. |
| Heavy Crease |
Shows as a strong dark line in fluid and
is easily seen by the naked eye when dry. |
| Pressed Out Crease |
The application of heat, moisture and/or
pressure to conceal a crease. This was formerly referred to
as an "ironed-out" crease. |
| Corner Margin Crease |
A diagonal crease occurring in the corner
of an imperforate stamp outside the design. |
| Corner Crease |
A diagonal crease which may or may not
affect the design of a perforated stamp at a corner. |
| Diagonal Crease |
A crease in a stamp, on a diagonal through
the stamp, but greater than a corner crease. |
| Vertical & Horizontal Creases |
Vertical & Horizontal Creases are self-explanatory. |
| Tears |
A physical separation of the paper fibers
of the stamp.
Tear: over 2.5mm.
Small
Tear: Approx. 2.5mm or less.
Tiny Tear: Approx. 1mm
or less. |
| Other Natural And Unnatural
Faults |
| Natural Faults |
|
| Inclusions |
Any substances incorporated in the paper
web during fabrication, and normally different in color from
that of the stamp. These are mentioned only if easily visible
on the front of the stamp and are not a normal characteristic
of the issue. |
| Natural Translucency |
A natural condition of the paper which
is generally ignored by the Expert Committee except when it
is significant in size and may be confused with a thin spot. |
| Pre-Printing Paper Fold |
A natural fold in the paper which occurs
during or before the printing process, which, on opening (or
pressing open) after printing, leaves an imprinted area. Paper
folds are only noted when they are large or may be confused
with a crease. |
| Natural Inking Flaw Or Smear |
This is generally self-evident on the surface
of a stamp, and may be due to either imprinted portions of the
design or as areas of over-inking. |
| Pin-Hole |
A tiny hole in the paper fibers through
which one can see light which goes completely through the paper. |
| Scrape |
An abrasion on the surface of a stamp which
moves or removes paper fiber. It will appear as a thin in fluid. |
| Thin |
The removal of paper fibers from the back
of a stamp. If only gum is absent, it is not considered to be
a thin and therefore not noted. |
| Portion Of Design Painted In Or Covering
Of Scrape |
The addition of any coloring agent to hide,
camouflage, or alter the design of a stamp. |
| Surface Rubs |
Partial removal of ink by abrasion; often
noted on chalk-coated papers of Great Britain and Colonies. |
| Scissors Cut |
A cut in the paper of a stamp which may
be due to scissors or any other cutting device. This will be
qualified as to whether it affects margin or design. |
| Soiling |
Any substance, normally dirt on the surface
of the paper, which noticeably dulls or darkens the appearance
of the stamp. |
| Repairs |
| Repair |
An attempt to cover up a defect
in the paper of a stamp. This may include:
Closing
of a tear.
Filling in of a thin.
Touching
up of scrapes.
Rebacking - adding margins or missing
perforations. (May warrant a "Warning" stamp.)
Replacing pieces or perforation of a stamp. |
| Alteration |
A fraudulent attempt to change the type
identifying characteristics of a stamp by the addition or removal
of design or perforation or by changing characteristics of the
paper. (All such items get a "Warning" stamp.) |
| Chemical Reinforcement |
The rejoining or reinforcement of perforations
by application of collodion or some other chemical agent. |
| Collodion Stains |
Stains in the paper caused by collodion
(a chemical substance), which is used to rejoin perforations
in multiples. It may be found on single stamps. Shows in fluid
as opaque white. |
| Cancellations |
| Non-Contemporary Cancellation |
A genuine cancellation applied
out of the time period of general usage of a stamp. This cancellation
may have been postally or privately applied. |
| Counterfeit Cancellation |
A reproduction or simulation of a genuine
cancellation or postal marking. (Such an item gets a "Warning"
stamp.) |
| Cancellation Lightened |
The lightening by chemical or mechanical
methods of a genuine cancellation to enhance the appearance
of a stamp. |
| Cancellation Removed |
The removal of a cancellation from a stamp
by either chemical or mechanical methods. (Such an item gets
a "Warning" stamp.) |
| Cancellation Enhanced |
The addition to or strengthening of a cancellation
to improve its appearance. |
| Cancellation Altered |
The change of a part of a cancellation
to represent other than what it originally was, e.g. an altered
date(s). (All such items receive a "Warning" stamp.) |
| Cancelled-To-Order/Favor Cancelled |
Genuine postal cancellations applied to
an item (stamp/ cover) which did not pass through the mails.
This term is not usually applied to first day covers. |
| General Terms |
| Small Faults |
When a multitude of small defects
are present on the same stamp and are too numerous to point
out individually; e.g. creases, pinholes, tears, etc. |
| Defective Stamp |
A stamp with one or more major faults;
e.g. a piece of the stamp is missing, or a hole exists that
one can see through. |
| Counterfeit |
An item, usually a replica of an existing
stamp, made to defraud collectors. The term can also be applied
to overprints, postmarks, etc. (These receive a "Warning"
stamp.) |
| Postal Forgery |
A contemporary counterfeit which has been
used to defraud postal authorities. |
| Bogus |
A fabricated item (stamp or cancellation),
which never existed in this format, bearing names of imaginary
or existing postal authorities or services; created to fool
or defraud collectors. (All such items receive a "Warning"
stamp.) |
| Reprint |
A printing of stamps made from the original
plates after the stamp has become obsolete. This could be officially
or privately done. This term does not apply to stamps sold by
the U.S. Government. |
| Terms For Cover |
| Bisect (or other fraction) On
Cover |
Such items will only be given
"genuine" certificates when the cancellation is applied
across the cut or when sufficient collateral documentation exists
to verify authenticity. |
| Cleaning Of Cover |
The cleaning of a cover is mentioned ONLY
when the cleaning NOTICEABLY affects the postal markings, the
stamps, or postal routing including address. This will only
include erasures where they affect the above. |
| Extensive Cleaning |
Usually applied to covers which have had
a considerable portion cleaned by either chemical or mechanical
methods. |
| Manipulation Of Stamps And Markings On A
Cover |
Removal and replacement of original stamp.
Mentioned only if quite noticeable.
Removal, repair, and replacement of a stamp.
Addition, deletion or substitution of stamp(s) (certificate
gets a "Warning" stamp).
Touching up of postal marking(s) or address. |
| Repairing Of Cover |
Backflap added. The addition of a non-original
backflap.
Rebacking a cover front. A cover front which has been joined
to a back which was not original. |
More detailed
terms for covers can be found at Terms
Used In Expertizing
Covers. |
