Hobbies And Interests
Authentication Mark
An authentication mark is a very small marking seen on old and rare stamps. This mark means that an expert has examined and verified the authenticity of the stamp.
Cancellation
A cancellation, also known as a cancel, is a marking on a stamp. It indicates that a stamp has gone through the mail. It's usually a postmark or a hand-stamp.
Denomination
Also known as "face value," the denomination is a numerical designation seen on a stamp. This indicates how much the stamp cost at the time of its purchase.
Grill
A grill is a pattern on a stamp that resembles a waffle iron. This pattern absorbed the ink from the cancellation mark when the stamp went through the mail. During the 19th century, grills appeared on some stamps to prevent reuse.
Invert
An invert is an error stamp that occurs during printing. On some older, two-color stamps, the subject appears upsidedown. The most famous of these errors is the "Inverted Jenny," a 24-cent airmail stamp from 1918.
Perforation
Perforations are punched-out holes between stamps. These holes aid in tearing the stamps apart. Many different styles and sizes of perforations are in existence. An instrument called a perforation gauge can measure these holes, which can affect the value of the stamp.
Precancel
A precancel mark sometimes appears on stamps that were part of a large mailing. This bypasses the normal cancellation process and saves time during mailing.
Variety
A variety is a variation on a stamp's usual form. Any number of factors can contribute to these variations. Common differences in varieties include printing and production errors, perforations, colors or watermarks.