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Descriptive Terms FAQ

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maintained by Andrew Busmanis. Last update April 22, 2009, 5:55 am EST

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Mint Never Hinged (MNH)

Mint Hinged (MH)

Mint - Disturbed Gum (MDG)

Mint - No Gum (MNG)

Used (U)

Used - Cancelled to Order (CTO)

Used- Precancel (PCL)

Other Resources

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Introduction

torial

Welcome to the stamp descriptive terms FAQ! We've added this page to help SOR

ction FAQ

members and visitors sort through some of the mysteries of the many terms and

scriptive Terms

abbreviations we tend to use to describe stamps as we post messages on the dis

als

board and as we post items in our Stamporama auction. What follows below is a

er Guide

terms that are commonly used to identify a stamp's "condition" (mint, used, etc.

tegories

opposed to its "condition" (VF, F, VG, etc.). Confusing, isn't it? That's what we tho

Books

too...

w Books

mplates

It is our hope that SOR auction sellers and buyers will use this page as a commo

cing

reference as we list and bid on the many different stamps and covers that are on

Buyers

auction page on a daily basis. Having a common language as we list and bid on l

m Sellers

go a long way towards improving our auctions and avoiding potential disappointm

on Board

and disputes between buyers and sellers. As you'll see from the definitions below

w User Inf.

are many common terms for the same type of stamp. We hope, with everyone's

sted in Last Day

participation, that this list will help to shed some light on the many stamp terms

sted in Last Week

see from day to day and give us a common language to use on this and other sit

st 30 Postings

always though, if a bidder has any questions at all, just link on the seller's name

ow Topics

arch

load an Image

mat a Message

oticons
Email Maint.

ny Page

reen Width

row

lot page to ask that question. Asking a question in advance saves more questions

We invite comments and ideas to help improve our list. The work done here repre

the results of a discussion on the SOR Discussion Board over which terms are the

ones to use when describing stamps. Out of that, Randy, Ralph, Ken, Dan, David,

(our intrepid weblord) and I sat down to actually read the front sections of our ol
catalogues (the boring part without any stamp listings in it) and consulted other

sites to see if we could come up with a usable and easy to access list for Stampo
visitors. This is the result. We hope that you will enjoy our collective efforts.

de

er

Online

Top
Mint Never Hinged (MNH)

s Only

Only

Also known as

Post office fresh

Mint (for modern issues)

**

Never hinged

Unused (a term used in different ways by different people, which can mean

type of Mint stamp or MNH. It is best to check with the other party for a sp
definition when a stamp is described in this way.)

A Mint, Never Hinged stamp is generally described as a mint stamp with absolute

disturbances on the gum on the back of the stamp. It also has not been retouche

regummed in any way (in general, older, classic stamps may have been regumm

they were issued to give the impression that they still have their original gum int
Top

Mint Hinged (MH)

Also known as

Unused (see above)

Light Hinge/Lightly Hinged (MLH)

Heavy Hinge/Heavily Hinged (MHH)

Hinge Remnant (MHR)

A Mint Hinged stamp is one that shows disturbance on the gum of the stamp due

stamp hinge being used to mount the stamp at some point in that stamp's lifetim

degree that the hinge mark is noticeable is often used to refine the term into ligh

heavy hinge. Whether or not the whole hinge or part of the hinge is still attached

stamp is not important - the fact that a stamp hinge was once applied to that pa
stamp and is noticeable is all it takes to place it in this category.
Top
Mint - Disturbed Gum (MDG)
Also known as

Disturbed original gum

Damaged gum

Unused (see above)

This category is for stamps that have faults in the original gum that are not the r

stamp hinges. Humidity, contact with moisture, and stamps sticking to old album

and then removed are common examples of disturbed gum. Once again, the amo

original gum left (most refer to +/- 50% of the original gum) on the stamp is a

distinction that's made amongst some dealers and collectors. M-DG stamps are a

sometimes described by collectors and dealers as MH stamps, with no distinction

made between the two categories.
Top
Mint - No Gum (MNG)
Also known as

Ungummed

Unused (see above)

The stamp has not been postally used; however, there is no gum left on the back

stamp. Some early stamps were issued without gum; and these are usually note

catalogues. Some collectors describe M-NG stamps as having little value; there is

aftermarket for unused (uncancelled) stamps sold at deep discounts from face; f

face stamps, this could be significantly more than its used value. In addition, ma

US stamps, including US Columbians, would retain significant value as MNG copie

Top
Used (U)
Also known as

Postally used

Cancelled

These are stamps that have found a purpose in life and have been "used" to send

through the postal system (or on revenue documents, etc.). On used stamps, the

quality of the stamp determines its value more than anything else. Factors such a

centering; perforation quality; colour freshness (these first three are also determ

factors in all mint stamps); heavy, light or normal cancels; and the type of cance
are factors to take into consideration when selling or buying used stamps. Some

examples of specific types of cancels are SON (socked on the nose), Bullseye, Fa
cancels, Cork Cancels and Ring Cancels.
Top
Used - Cancelled to Order (CTO)

CTOs are mint stamps cancelled by postal authorities or authorized agents and h

never seen postal duty. Most CTOs have gum on the back, but some are sold mo
paper or with special cancellations on envelopes or paper. Notable CTO countries

former Eastern Bloc countries and Middle Eastern states. German inflation issues

common example of early CTOs. CTOs are usually not considered desirable by co

but, with some issues of stamps, postally used examples are very hard to obtain

some catalogues like Scott's will list values for CTOs and place a premium on pos
used copies.
Top
Used- Precancel (PCL)

There are several types of precancels. They include those with some type of canc

city/state or numeral representative of a city) applied by the post office before sa

well as service-inscribed stamps, with the intended service (pre-sorted first cla
non-profit being two examples) either part of the stamp or applied after printing
before sale.
Top
Other Resources

Here are some sites which have more information about stamp collecting terms a

stamp collecting in general:

AskPhil from the Collectors Club of Chicago
Plate Number Coil Collectors Club

Final Word

Most stamp catalogues will only list a few of the above terms with their stamps. T

Scott Standard Postage Stamp Catalogue lists MNH, MH and Used for early issues

only MNH and Used for modern issues. Michel (a German catalogue) lists MNH, M
NG, M-DG and Used for earlier issues and only MNH and Used in modern issues.
French catalogue) lists MNH, M-NG and Used for older issues and MNH and Used
modern issues.

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