Parcel Post – a service provided by the Post Office Department which accommodated packages weighing over four pounds. Parcel Post service, finally made available to U.S. citizens on January 1, 1913, was received with enormous enthusiasm. Farm families used it to convey produce at standardized, understandable, and lower rates than they had received from express companies. Marketers were thrilled with the promise of this new sales frontier. The growth of Parcel Post service was phenomenal. During the first six months of operation approximately 300 million parcels were handled. When Collect on Delivery (COD) Service was introduced seven months later (July 1, 1913), the popularity of Parcel Post service went through the roof as mail order companies’ profits exploded. COD and Parcel Post service pushed the development of industry tied to the creation and development of unique parcel mailing containers, including those built to hold eggs by the dozens.
Part-perforated – a stamp perforated in one direction only, either horizontally or vertically, and cut apart in the other direction.
Patronage – the distribution of appointments to people based on their political or financial support. Patronage reforms began in 1883 with the Pendleton Act, but postmaster and rural letter carrier positions remained essentially political appointments until the reorganization of the postal system in 1970.
Perforation – a process involving the removal of small bits of paper in various shapes to allow for easy tearing. The number of perforations (each consisting of a depression and a projection) in two centimeters is called the ‘gauge’ of that perforation.
Personal delivery stamp – a triangular stamp inscribed with a D representing fee paid by addressee for mail to be delivered to him/her personally. Stamps inscribed with a V insured personal delivery to the addressee and were affixed by the sender.
Photogravure – a printing process in which a design is photographed on the printing plate through a fine screen. The process breaks the copy into very fine, square dots, and the depressions formed around the squares hold the ink, also known as ‘gravure’.
Pillars – repetitive decorations or lines printed in the pane margins of watermarked paper to prohibit its being counterfeited.
Pin roulette – tiny punctures that do not actually poke through the paper.
Plate number – the serial number engraved on a plate which usually appears in a corner of a sheet of stamps. Single digit suffix numbers instead of the whole serial number are printed on coils.
Plate Proof – Certified plate proofs are the last printed proof of the plate before printing the stamps at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing. These plate proofs are each unique, with the approval signatures and date. For postal scholars these plates provide important production information in the plate margin inscriptions, including guidelines, plate numbers, and initials of the siderographer, or person who created the plate from a transfer roll.
Playing card stamp – a revenue stamp paying a tax on packs of playing cards. The revenue paid depended upon the value of the pack. Opening the pack usually destroyed the stamp.
Plebescite stamp – a stamp issued by a temporarily independent postal administration intended to influence a popular vote.
Pneumatic tubes – a transport system that carried mail under city streets. The service, which began in 1893 in Philadelphia, used canisters that could carry up to six hundred letters each and travel at an average of thirty-five miles per hour.
POD – abbreviation of the term used by Postmaster General John McLean (1823-1829) for the administrative entity of the U.S. Postal Department. The title was used for the postal system until the postal reorganization act of 1970. The Post Office Department became the U.S. Postal Service on July 1, 1971.
Porte de mar stamp – a stamp used to indicate the amount to be paid to the captains of the mail steamers taking outgoing foreign mail. The phrase means ‘Carried by Sea’, and is associated with Mexican labels.
Post Card – a card used to send a message via the mail. The Post Office Department authorized the use of privately-created postcards in 1898. These cards usually included an image on one side and space for a message and an address on the other. Postcards were popular collecting items in the early twentieth century.
Post Office – the location at which mail is received, sorted, and delivered, and where stamps and other postal materials are sold.
Post Office Department – term used by Postmaster General John McLean (1823-1829) for the administrative entity of the U.S. postal system. The title was used for the postal system until the postal reorganization act of 1970. The Post Office Department became the U.S. Postal Service on July 1, 1971.
Post Roads – any transportation network designated to carry mail. The Post Office Department designated waterways as post roads in 1823 and railways during the late 1830s.
Post-A-Book stamp – a self-adhesive stamp specifically issued for the mailing of books from retail bookshops.
Postage currency – postage stamps used as small bills during a shortage of metal coins.
Postage due stamp – a fee paid by the recipient of mail for underpaid postal charges.
Postal Card – a card which is similar in look and function to post cards but which is produced by the postal service. Postal cards include pre-printed postage on the card.
Postal fiscal issue – revenue stamp later authorized to be used postally.
Postal Inspection Service – In 1772, postal inspectors (or ‘surveyors’) were first contracted by Deputy Postmaster General Benjamin Franklin to conduct audits on various postmasters and their accounts. As the Post Office Department matured, the postal inspector’s responsibilities greatly increased. Some of the duties they have performed over the years include: establishing new mail routes and post offices; appointing postmasters; hiring contractors to carry the mails; assisting in setting-up and establishing efficient military postal systems; protecting the mails in times of natural disasters and transportation-related accidents; and investigating mail fraud, mail thefts, and lost letters. Inspectors from this service were among the first on the scene after the 2001 9/11 attacks. In New York City, they secured the mail at the Church Street post office, located just across the street from the World Trade Center. Others were present at the crash scene of United flight 93 near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, to recover mail if possible. The service also has a strong program that helps people fight identity theft.
Postal Note Stamps – Unlike regular postage stamps, which are used to pay the rate for mail delivery, postal note stamps together with the postal note cards, were created to send small amounts of money up to ten dollars to anyone on the mainland of the United States. Similar in use to money orders, the stamps were created to send small amounts at a lower cost per transaction than money orders which were cost prohibitive for small values. The stamps were issued from February 1, 1945 until March 31, 1951. Not only did postal notes prove to be more affordable than money orders for small value transactions, they resulted in less paperwork for postal clerks, as demanded by the Post Office. With postal notes the clerk had only to affix the stamps and cancel them, a normal postal handling. The paperwork was completed by the customer who filled out the form himself. Each postal note contained three parts. On the left was the payee’s coupon. The middle contained the paying office coupon upon which postal note stamps were affixed. This portion was left at the post office when the money was paid. On the right was the purchaser’s receipt. The stamps came in eighteen denominations and the postal notes were printed in eleven denominations. Up to two stamps per note could be combined to reach values between 1-cent and 10-dollars. Patrons could insure the note for a fee of 5-cents. At the top of each stamp are the words “United States of America” in white against a black background. The words “Postal Note” are printed in the novel font against a grey background. The value is also in white against a black background. Curled laurel branches are engraved around the value on both sides. The word “cent(s)” has been printed below. The stamps were designed by William K. Schrage and engraved by C.A. Brooks. The words were engraved by Axel W. Christensen. The numbers were engraved by John S. Edmondson (1,3,4,10,30,50,70,80 and 90 cents), Edward H. Helmuth (7 and 20 cents) and Axel W. Christensen (2,5,6,8,9,40 and 60 cents). Printed by the American Banknote Company on a rotary press printer, the stamps have no watermarks and are perforated 11 x 10.5. The stamps were printed on two types of paper. The oldest paper was thick and gray in color and the newer paper was thin and white, the so-called melamine paper. The number of stamps actually printed is unknown. The amount is estimated around 660 million stamps total, resulting in approximately 40 million of each value. The stamps were destroyed after use but a limited number were offered for sale to collectors in 1951.
Postal reorganization – the transformation of the Post Office Department into the United States Postal Service. In 1970, President Nixon signed the Postal Reorganization Act, which went into effect on July 1, 1971.
Postal savings stamp – a savings stamp redeemable as a credit to postal savings accounts. The purchaser filled a book with the savings stamps, which could be redeemed for a certificate. The Postal Stamp Savings program spanned 1911 to 1970.
Postal Savings System – a system for saving money which the Post Office Department operated from 1911 to 1967. Begun as a way to encourage individuals to create financial savings accounts, immigrants found it particularly useful since it resembled similar systems in their native countries. The system reached its peak in 1947. In 1967, unclaimed deposits were turned over to the U.S. Treasury Department. Some money was kept for future claims, but legislation ended all claims after July 13, 1985.
Postal Service – a national, usually governmental, system of transmitting written communications. The U.S. postal system was reorganized in 1971. As a part of the transformation the Post Office Department, it was renamed the U.S. Postal Service in that year.
Postal tax stamp – a stamp used to raise funds for a specific purpose. Though not valid for postage, it has been required on mail at certain times.
Postal telegraph stamp – a stamp issued for use on telegrams but subsequently permitted to be used as a postage stamp.
Postcard stamp – an adhesive postage stamp affixed to a postcard and then overprinted. Such a stamp was used in the Orange Free State, 1889-1897.
Postcard tax stamp – a stamp issued as a tax on picture postcards sent through the mail. The postcards must also carry normal postage. Used in Russia ca. 1922.
Postmark – an authorized mark printed over a postage stamp that makes reuse virtually impossible while recording the date and place of mailing.
Postmarking device – a tool for marking the origin, date, and transit of mail. Another use was to deface stamps, making them impossible to reuse. Such devices first appeared in Italy about 1454, but two centuries elapsed before they were widely used. Mechanical cancellers were developed in 1876 to speedily process the growing volume of mail. By 1880, power-driven units could postmark 15,000 cards or letters per hour.
Postmaster – the individual in charge of the operations of a local post office. A little-used nineteenth-century variation of the term to address women functioning in this position was ‘postmistress’.
Postmaster General – the executive head of the U.S. Postal Service.
Postmasters’ provisional stamp – a postmaster-issued stamp used before the introduction of government issues, especially during an interregnum.
Potato tax stamp – a revenue stamp issued in 1935 which was mandated by the Potato Act. The Supreme Court declared the stamp unconstitutional, and it was consequently never used.
Precancel – a stamp cancelled prior to affixing on mail matter or before being deposited at the post office which allows the item to bypass the usual canceling process.
Printing plate – any printing base used to print a sheet of stamps. The term ‘subject’ designates a complete stamp design on a plate. Plates of four hundred subjects have been used for printing most of the U.S. stamps since 1890. Before that, smaller plates were generally used.
Private die – the engraving of a stamp design by a manufacturer for exclusive use by that manufacturer. This was allowed under the Revenue Act of 1862. Stamps printed from such dies are known as ‘private die proprietary stamps’.
Private die proprietary stamp – a revenue stamp used to seal a container of, for instance, matches and playing cards. The stamp pays the tax on the item and often advertised the company’s name. They were widely used between 1862 and 1883.
Private perforation – a perforation applied by individuals or companies instead of being officially perforated by the issuing authority. Some companies use special perforations to operate more efficiently in their vending and mailing machines.
Provisional stamp – a stamp produced, often issued during an emergency to meet an immediate need, whose value or purpose has been altered after printing by means of a surcharge or overprint.
Publicity envelope stamp – a stamp sold to veteran’s organizations at reduced rates for use to raise funds for disabled veterans.

Obligatory tax stamp – a revenue stamp issued to collect funds for national or philanthropic purpose.
Occupation stamp – a stamp overprinted or specially printed for use in a conquered territory occupied by the victorious military forces.
OCR – an acronym for ‘Optical Character Reader’. In the Postal Service, Optical Character Readers are used to read mail addresses and spray corresponding bar codes onto the envelopes for processing. The first postal OCR was used in the Detroit post office in 1965.
Official issue – a stamp issued for use on official correspondence. When inscribed or overprinted for use by specific government departments, the stamp is referred to as ‘Departmental’.
Official seals – a seal used to close mail opened or damaged by the postal service or accidentally left unsealed by the sender.
Offset printing – a printing process often used with lithography in which an inked image is transferred from the plate to a roller. In an intermediate step, the roller applies ink to the paper. The design is transferred from the plate to a rubber blanket, and then re-transferred to the stamp paper.
On-the-Fly – an exchange of mail between Railway Post Office cars and post offices without stopping the train. Mail was exchanged via cranes on which postmasters hooked a mail pouch. As the RPO car passed by, the mail was snagged by a hook attached to the side of the train car. Mail bound for the post office was placed in a pouch that was then tossed off the train and retrieved by the postmaster.
Overprints – words or devices printed on a stamp after it was completed. Overprints are used to provide stamps for countries which have none of their own; to define or alter the use of a stamp; to show changes in form of government; to mark a change in the name of a country; to denote occupation by a foreign force; to mark an anniversary; or to identify valid issues when identical stamps are in alien hands.

Late fee stamp – a stamp paying additional fees on correspondence put into the post after normal closing hours, the intention of which is to connect with evening dispatches by mail trains.
Letter carrier – the person who delivers mail to the addressee. Other terms for this position have included ‘mailman’ and ‘mail carrier’.
Life insurance stamp – a stamp used in New Zealand to pay postage on mail sent by the Government Life Insurance Department.
Line perforation – process by which a sheet of stamps is perforated one row at a time, proceeding in one direction, over the entire sheet. The sheet is then turned ninety degrees, and the process is repeated. The distinguishing characteristic is that the holes in the vertical and horizontal rows do not coincide at the four corners of each stamp.
Line roulette – a series of short dashes cut into the paper.
Literacy fund stamp – a stamp used in government campaigns to combat illiteracy.
Lithography – a printing process in which the design is drawn, photographed, and transferred to the stone or plates of zinc or aluminum in a greasy ink. It is then fixed by treatment with acid. In printing, the stone or plate is wet with a fluid that repels the printing ink, except on the greasy lines of the design. Such printing from a smooth surface produces no pressure through the paper or raised ink as results from typography engraving.
Local city government issue – a stamp issued for use in only one city or area.
Local official stamps – stamps that franked official correspondence for one year to determine the amount of mail sent by designated provinces.
Lottery stamp – a stamp whose fee covered postage and credit to the U.N. refugee fund; each stamp also had serial number for participation in late-year lottery. Associated with Norway and marked “June 1, 1964.”
Lozenge perforation – perforation that consists of diamond-shaped holes.

Joint issue – when two or more countries issue stamps on the same date to commemorate the same event or honor the same person, place or idea. Usually the central vignette is the same, framed with different lettering and denominations.
Joint lines – lines that appear on gutters between sheets in rotary press printing and are caused by ink filling the space where the edges of the curved plates meet when mounted on the press cylinder.
Journal tax stamp – a stamp denoting taxes on newspapers but often conferring free transmission through the post.
Jubilee lines – dashes of color surrounding certain sheets or panes of stamps that are added to prevent damage or excessive wear by the pressure of the inking roller to the printing plate. These lines first appeared on British stamps of 1887, Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee Year. It is called the ‘co-extensive’ line when broken, and it is called the ‘continuous line’ when unbroken.

Z

Z:
1: Scott Catalog number prefix for Special Purpose (Japan).
2: (in circle) control mark on back of 1946 regular issue used in Spanish Morocco.
3: Bolivia used its 1928 air mail issue with this overprint for mail carried on Hindenburg.
4: overprint on stamps of Russia for Armenia.
5: with star overprint, on stamps of Russia, Transcaucasion Federated Republics.

$Z: dollar, currency unit in Zimbabwe.
Za: (Sp.) Zaragoza (Saragossa), Spain pre-adhesive postmark.
Z.A.: initials of “Zapadnaya Armiya,” (Russian) Western Army, Latvia 1919.
Zacatecas: district in Mexico, overprint on stamps of Mexico, 1914.
Za Crveni Krst: inscription on Yugoslavia postal tax stamp for Red Cross.
Zadní strana: (Czech.) back (side), reverse (side), other side.
Zadonsk: city in Russia, Zemstvo local post; 1878-1914, see Zemstvo.
Zafarralla: city in Spain, Spanish Civil War local post, Nationalist forces, 1937.
Zafirkék: (Hung.) sapphire blue (color).
Zafra: city in Spain, Spanish Civil War local post, Nationalist forces, 1936.
Z. Afr. Republiek (Republik): inscription for Transvaal, see South African Republic.
Zagazig: city in Egypt, Interpostal Seals used 1864-84, see Interpostal Seals.
Zahl: (Ger.) number.
Zahldienstmarken: (Ger.) official statistical sampling stamps, Prussia and Baden for lump sum payments.
Zahlungsanweisung: (Ger.) money order.
Zahnfehler: (Ger.) perforation fault.
Zähnung: (Ger.) perforation.
Zähnungsschlussel: (Ger.) perforation guage.
Záhyb: (Czech.) crease, bend, fold.
Zaire: central Africa, formerly Congo Democratic Republic; currency: 100 sengi = 1 li-kuta (1967), 100 makuta = 1 Zaire, 100 centimes = 1 franc (1998) 1885, July 1: King Leopold II of Belgium named himself king as area personal possession, 1886, Jan.1: first stamps depicted Leopold, king and sole owner, inscribed “Etat du Congo,” 1908, Nov. 15: Belgium annexed the territory as the Congo Free State, 1960, June 30: named The Congo Democratic Republic, 1961-64: United Nations peace-keeping force in country, 1971, Nov.: changed name to Republic of The Zaire, 1971, Dec. 18: No.1. 4 kuta gold and multi, first stamp as Zaire, 1975: first official stamp; see Belgian Congo, Congo Democratic Republic.
Zaiss, F. & Co.: inscription on Match stamp; see Private die proprietary stamps.
Zakarpats’ka, Zakarpatskaya: (Russ.) see Celistvosti – Podkarpatská Rus# Zakarpatskaya Ukrania: (Russ.) local post, Trans-Carpathian Ukraine, 1944:
Zakaznoe: (Russ.) registered.
Zalamea la Real: city in Spain, Spanish Civil War local post, Nationalist forces, 1937.
Zálepka: (Czech.) letter-card.
Zalotkop: currency unit, Poland, Russian occupation.
Zambezia: Mozambique District, Portuguese East Africa, administered by the Zambesia Company; currency: 1,000 reis = 1 milreis 1894: No.1, 5 reis yellow, overprinted Zambezia on Portuguese colonial stamps, first newspaper stamp, 1913-20: provinces of Quelimane and Tete had own stamps, 1922: used Quelimane issues, currently uses stamps of Mozambique; see Quelimane, Tete.
Zambia: southern Africa; formerly Northern Rhodesia; currency: 12 pence = 1 shilling, 20 shillings = 1 pound, 100 ngwee =1 kwacha (1968) 1889-1924: administered by the British South Africa Company, 1890: stamps of the British South Africa Company, 1924: area divided into Northern and Southern Rhodesia, 1925: stamps inscribed Northern Rhodesia, 1954: became part of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland, 1964, Oct.24: No.1, 3 pence blue-brown and green, first stamps with new name of Zambia, first postage due stamp, 1967, March 22: joined the UPU; see Rhodesia, Northern, Rhodesia and Nyasaland.
Zamboanga: local post overprinted stamps for area in Philippines, operated by Spanish military, 1898.
Zamora: city in Spain, Spanish Civil War local post, Nationalist forces, 1936.
Zangezur: part of Armenia and Azerbaijan; surcharge on stamps of Russia for use as provisionals, 1919.
Zante: see Ionian Islands.
Zanzibar: see Tanzania
Zanzibar: overprint on stamps of British East Africa, India, 1895-96; see British East Africa, India.
Zanzibar: The Road to Zanzibar inscription, unissued Great Britain cinderella by David Horry, 2001.
Zanzibar: off coast of Tanganyika in East Africa; Sultanate made up of islands of Zanzibar and Pemba,; currency: 12 pies = 1 anna, 16 anna = 1 rupee, 100 cents = 1 rupee (1908), 100 cents = East African shilling (1935) 1875: used stamps of India, 1890: became a British protectorate, 1890, Aug. 27-July 31, 1891: German post office, 1894-1904: French post office operated, overprint/surcharge on stamps of France, 1895, Nov. 10: No.1, ½ anna, green, using stamps of British India with “Zanzibar” overprint, 1896: stamps of British East Africa overprinted “Zanzibar,” 1896, Sept. 30: first Zanzibar designs, 1897: French postage due issued, used in French post office, 1904, July 31: French post office closed, British took control over protectorate,. 1931: first postage due stamp, 1963, Dec.10: independent member of British Commonwealth, 1964, Jan. republic established as People’s Republic of Zanzibar, earlier stamps overprinted “Jamhuri 1964” (Republic), 1964, Feb. 28: first stamps as republic, 1964, April 26: Zanzibar joined Tanganyika, 1964, July.: United Republic of Tanganyika and Zanzibar, renamed Tanzania, 1965, Oct. 17: first stamps inscribed Zanzibar, 1968, July 1: stamps replaced with those of Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania; now part of the United Republic of Tanzania.
Zanzibar, French Offices: currency: 16 annas = 1 rupee 1894: No.1, ½ anna on 5 centime green, surcharge on stamps of France, 1897: “Poste France Zanzibar” surcharge printed on the margins of sheets of french stamps.
Zanzibar-Tanzania: Zanzibar, 1965-66.
Zanzibaz: British Colonial Royal Wedding frames from book Surreal Stamps and Unreal Stickers.
Západ: (Czech.) West.
Zapadna Bosna: Bosnia local overprint for Western Bosnia, Rebel Muslim ministate, Western Bosnia, 1993-95.
Západni Evropa: (Czech.) Western Europe.
Západni Ukrajinsky: (Czech.) Western Ukraine.
Západni Nemecko: (Czech.) Western Germany.
Západni Samoa: (Czech.) Western Samoa.
Z.A.R.: (Zuid Africaansche Republiek) (Afrik.) South African Republic, overprint on stamps of Cape of Good Hope for British occupation of Vryeburg; see Zuid Afrikaansche Republiek, South African Republic.
Zara: Dalmatian seaport, part of Austro-Hungarian Empire; 1918: taken by Italian forces from Austria, 1920: ceded to Italy, 1923: made a free port, 1929-42: Italian enclave on Yugoslav territory, 1943, Sept. 8: occupied by Germany, overprint “Deutsche Besetzung Zara” (German occupation Zara) on stamps of Italy, 1945: annexed to Yugoslavia.
Zaragoza: province in Spain, Spanish Civil War local post, Nationalist and Republican forces, 1936-37.
Zaragoza School: bogus local post, Spanish, 1953?
Zárí: (Czech.) September.
Zarkach: Poland-Zarki local post.
Zarska Bulgarska Posta: Royalist Bulgaria-Government in Exile labels, 1964.
Zarki: local post, Poland, German occupation, 1918.
Zawiercie: local post, Poland, German occupation, 1916.
Z.B.S.: see Germany: Zeitungs-Bucher-Spedition. Germanlocal post forBeuthen,Gleiwitz,Königshütten, Neisse, Oppein, 1896.
Z.B.V.B. Post: United Kingdom postal strike: local post 1971.
Zdunska Wola: city in German-occupied Russian Poland, local post overprint, 1918-20.
ZD., Zusammendruck: (Ger.) se-tenant.
Zece: (Rom.) ten (number).
Zechmeyer’s transfers: German toymaker, made postage stamp transfers reproducing stamps for children.
Zefta: city in Egypt, Interpostal Seals used 1864-84, see Interpostal Seals.
Zegelregt: inscription on revenue stamps for use in Transvaal, 1895.
Zeichnung: (Ger.) design, artwork printed portion of a stamp, as distinguished from the surrounding margin of blank paper.
Zeitung: (Ger.) newspaper, periodical or journals.
Zeitungsmarke: (Ger.) inscription on stamps of Austria, Germany for newspaper stamp.
Zeitungsmarke Deutsches Reich: (Ger.) inscription on stamps of Germany for newspaper stamp.
Zeitungs Post Stempel: (Ger.) newspaper postage stamps.
Zeitungs Staempel: (Ger.) inscription on first newspaper stamp of Austria.
Zeitz: city in Germany, Courier local post, 1893-1900.
Zejla: city in Somaliland Protectorate, Interpostal Seals used 1864-84, see Interpostal Seals.
Zelaya: Nicaragua Province, aka Bluefields; 1904-05: first stamps issued, “B.Dpto.Zelaya” overprint to prevent currency manipulation, used to fill dealers’ orders, never regularly issued or used, 1909: first official stamps used overprint “Oficial B,” 1912: Zelaya and Cabo Gracias provinces’ currency was on a silver basis, rest of Nicaragua used paper money separate stamps issued; see Nicaragua, Cabo Gracias a Dios.
Zelená: (Czech.) green (color).
Zelenavy: (Czech.) greenish (color).
Zelenomodrá: (Czech.) green-blue (color).
Zelenosedá: (Czech.) green-grey (color).
Zelenozlutá: (Czech.) green-yellow (color).
Zeleny: (Czech.) green (color).
Zeleznice: (Czech.) railroad, railway.
Zellin, J. H.& Co.: inscription on Medicine stamp; see Private die proprietary stamps.
Zemetresení: (Czech.) earthquake.
Zemliansk: city in Russia, Zemstvo local post; 1874-80, see Zemstvo.
Zemstvos: (Russ.) term used for 2,427 local stamps issued by 345 Rural Districts (Zemstvos) in Russia, had their own regulations and postage rates; 1865-1917; mail could be taken to other local villages or put into the state post office where official Russian stamps had to added.
Zenkor: city in Russia, Zemstvo local post; 1860-1915, see Zemstvo.
Zenobia: April Fool’s spoof using Hawaii and the Netherlands designs.
Zensierte post: (Ger.) censored mail.
Zensurstempel: (Ger.) censor cancel.
Zenter: (Ger.) center.
Zentraler Kurierdienst: (Ger.) “Courier Mail” overprint issued in 1947 by German Democratic Republic for sealing official correspondence, used for officials, 1956-57.
Zentriert: (Ger.) location of the stamp design on the piece of paper it is printed on; if it is exactly in the middle, it is called a “perfectly centered stamp.”
Zentrierung: (Ger.) centering.
Zepelinová Posta: (Czech.) see Celistvosti – Zepelinová Posta
Zeppelin: German airship built by Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin, his firm Luftschiffbau Zeppelin or its related (Goodyear Zeppelin) or successor firms (Deutsche Zeppelin Reederei).
Zeppelin: overprint on stamps of Finland and Iceland, airmails, 1930.
Zeppelin Mail: stamp-like label privately printed by A.C. Roesler
Zeppelin Post: Liechtenstein airmails.
Zeppelins (Zepps): stamps issued for use in conjunction with the flights of the Graf Zeppelin and other rigid airships; covers carried on these ships are called “Zeppelin Covers.”
Zero: postal administration mark for invalid stamps used on mail at country of origin.
Zerrissen: (Ger.) torn.
ZES: see Zil Elwannyen Sesel.
Zf., Zahnfehler: (Ger.) perforation fault.
Z Grill: two copies exist of the US 1867 1¢ blue Z grill, name not related to the shape of the grill; discoverer, William L. Stevenson could not decide to which family of grills the stamps belonged and called it “Z.”
Zi: (Rom.) day.
Zickzackformig: (Ger.) zig-zag roulette format
Zieber’s One Cent Dispatch: U. S. local post, Pittsburgh, Pa., 1851.
Ziegelrot: (Ger.) brick red color.
Zieher cards: postcards printed and sold by Otto Zieher, Munich, Germany in the early 1900s.
Zielfahrt: (Ger.) flight.
Zienkof: city in Russia, Zemstvo local post; 1878-1916, see Zemstvo.
Ziffer: (Ger.) figure, numeral.
Zig Zag lines: watermark seen on Korea, 1884.
Zig-zag roulette: the perforation cuts resemble the teeth of a saw.
Zil Eloigne Sesel: (Creol) see Zil Elwannyen Sesel.
Zil Elwagne Sesel: see Zil Elwannyen Sesel.
Zil Elwannyen Sesel: (ZES) outer islands, south of Seychelles, Aldabra, Farquhar and Des Roches of Seychelles; 1968-76: formerly part of the British Indian Ocean territory; 1980, June 20: No.1, 5¢; multicolor, stamps inscribed “Zil Eloigne Sesel” sold from the m.v. Cinq Juin, as a traveling post office, 1982, July 22: stamps inscribed “Zil Elwagne Sesel Seychelles,” stamps of ZES used when post offices ran out of Seychelles stamps, 1992, Dec. last new stamps appeared, plenty of stock on hand; see British Indian Ocean Territory, Seychelles.
Zillions of Stamps: Linn’s Stamp News online retail website
Zimbabwe: southeastern Africa, formerly Southern Rhodesia; currency: 100 cents = 1 dollar 1890-1924: stamps of British South African Company, 1924: stamps inscribed “Southern Rhodesia,” 1980, April 18: No.1, 1¢ multicolor, first stamp as Republic of Zimbabwe, 1981, July 31: joined the UPU, first postage due stamp.
Zimska Pomoc: “Winter Help,” overprint on stamps of Italy for occupation by Germany of Ljubljana, Yugoslavia.
Zimtbraun: (Ger.) cinnamon (color).
Zincography: printing from zinc plates.
Zinc orthosilicate: a phosphorescent suspension that glows under shortwave ultraviolet light; used as a taggant.
Zip: a cartoon character, designed by Howard B. Wilcox, looking like a postman printed on the margins of U.S. stamps and booklet panes since 1963. The man is referred to as Mr. Zip and is used to encourage people to use the Zone Improvement Plan code. It is always collected attached to the postage stamp. Mr. Zip officially retired in 1983, but he remained on the selvage of some stamps until 1986.
Zip+4: Addition of four digits to the basic Zip Code for sorting by carrier route and specific location; see Zip code, sector, segment.
Zip+4 barcode: a nine digit POSTNET (POSTal Numeric Encoding Technique) consisting of 52 vertical bars.
Zip+4 presort: bulk mail presorted to the nine-digit Zip Code and bundled.
Zip block: a margin block of U.S. stamps bearing the inscription “Use Correct Zip Code” in the salvage.
Zip code: U.S. postal code, uses five numbers; first introduced in the late 1960s, some early codes listed only three numbers; designates a specific geographic location; first three digits identify the delivery area of a sectional center facility or a major city post office ; the next two digits(fourth and fifth) digits identify the delivery area of an associate post office, post office branch, or post office station; see sector, segment.
Zipster Plus: a self-service, variable-denomination, coin-operated postage franking machine tested in postal stations April 1, 1992.
Zisemann, Griesheim & Co.: inscription on Match stamp; see Private die proprietary stamps.
Zitronengelb: (Ger.) citron (color).
Zittau: 1: city in Germany, Express-Packet-Beförderung, local post, 1887. 2: city in Germany, Verkehrsanstalt Courier, local post, 1898-1900.
ZKD: (Zentraler Kurierdienst) (Ger.) official mail in the DDR between government agencies and industries.
Zkousel: (Czech.) expertized (by).
Zkusmy tisk(y): (Czech.) proof(s), trial print(ing)(s).
Zl, Zloty: currency unit in Poland.
Zlatá: (Czech.) gold (metallic color).
Zlutá: (Czech.) yellow (color).
Zlutohnedá: (Czech.) yellow-brown, sienna (color).
Zlutoolivova: (Czech.) yellow-olive (color).
Zlutooranzová: (Czech.) yellow-brown, sienna (color).
Zlutooranzová: (Czech.) yellow-orange (color).
Zluty: (Czech.) yellow (color).
Z.M.: overprint on stamps of Mexico for Zacatecas provisionals.
Znalci: (Czech.) experts.
Známka: (Czech.) stamp, postage stamp.
Známka na vystrizku: (Czech.) postage stamp(s) on piece of paper or envelope, or on parcel clippings; see Vystrizek.
Známka nezoubkovaná: (Czech.) imperforate stamp.
Známka potravní dane: (Czech.) consumption tax stamp.
Známka postovne znehodnocená: (Czech.) postally cancelled stamp.
Známka postovním razítkem: (Czech.) postally used stamp, see Upotrebená.
Známka pro obchodní tiskopisy: (Czech.) printed matter stamp.
Známka s deskovou znackou: (Czech.) stamp with a plate marking
Známka s razítkem ochoty: (Czech.) stamp being cancelled to order.
Znamkové pole: (Czech.) plate position, sheet position.
Známkove sasitky: (Czech.) stamp booklets.
Známky: (Czech.) stamps.
ZOB: inscription on brick pictured in seal that is an abbreviation in Polish for the Jewish Battle Organization that fought against Nazis in the Warsaw ghetto uprising, 1943.
ZOFK: Zona Occupata Fiumano Kupa (Fiume Kupa Occupied Zone) overprint on stamps of Italy for Fiume; see Fiume.
Zöld: (Hung.) green (color).
Zöldfoki Szigetek: (Hung.) Cape Verde Island.
Zoll: (Ger.) customs.
Zollverein: a customs union of the North German States, formed in 1818.
Zolotonosha: city in Russia, Zemstvo local post; 1880-1916, see Zemstvo.
Zomerzegel: inscription on semipostals of Netherlands.
Zona: (Sp.) zone.
Zona de Ocupatie PTT 1919 Romania: (Rom.) overprint on stamps of Hungary, Romanian occupation, 1919.
Zona de Protectorado Espanol en Marruecos: (Sp.) overprint on stamps of Spain for Spanish Morocco, 1916-25.
Zona Occupata Fiumano Kupa: overprint on stamps of Yugoslavia, Italian Occupation.
Zone: a number that was part of US addresses until the start of the ZIP Code in 1963; inserted between the name of the city and the state.
Zone Francaise: inscription on stamps of France, occupation of Germany.
Zone Francaise Briefpost: overprint on stamps of Germany, French occupation, 1945-46.
Zone Matitima Terrestre: (Sp.) found on fiscals for port dues.
Zone Improvement Plan: see Zip.
Zoubkováne: (Czech.) perforated.
Zoubkováni: (Czech.) gauge of perforation.
Zoulouland: (Fr.) Zululand.
ZP: auction abbreviation for zeppelin
Zraca Posta: Trieste, Zone B, issued by Yugoslav military government.
Zrinyi Miklos (I), S.S.: steamship marking of the Danube Steam Navigation Company built around 1840s for service in the lower Danube.
Zrinyi Miklos (II), S.S.: steamship marking of the Danube Steam Navigation Company built around 1850s, for lower Danube lines.
Zrinyi Miklos (III), S.S.: steamship marking of the Danube Steam Navigation Company built 1910.
Z.Raketenstadt: (Ger.) Zucker rocket label, 1933.
Z.S.G.T.: (Zala Somogyi Steamship Co.), Hungary local post stamps, ferry service on Lake Balaton, 1873-76.
Zu: Zumstein catalog.
Zubehör: (Ger.) equipment used in the aid of stamp identification and handling.
Zugänglichkett: (Ger.) availability.
Zuid Afrikaansche Republiek (ZAR): (Afrikaans) South African Republic, see Transvaal.
Zuidwest Afrika: (Africaans) overprint on stamps of South Africa for S.W. Africa, 1923.
Zukleber: (Ger.) sticker used to seal opened mail.
Zulassungsmarke: (Ger.) inscription for parcel stamps of German Feldpost; “Concession stamp,” required on a letter sent by the military during World War II.
Zulia: bogus, Venezuelan seceding state,1894?
Zululand: east coast of southern Africa, formerly part of South Africa; currency: 12 pence = 1 shilling, 20 shillings = 1 pound 1884, Aug.16: the Transvaal, former area of Zululand, 1886-pre: used stamps of Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek (ZAR), 1886, Jan.: first local stamps with handstamped value and date; manufactured by Pietermaritzburg (Natal) printers and P Davis & Son as local printer inscribed “Nieuwe Republiek Zuid-Afrika.” 1887, May 9: Britain annexed area, became a colony, 1888, May 1: No.1, ½ penny vermilion, postal agreement with Natal, “Zululand ” overprint on stamps of Great Britain, 1888: “Zululand” overprint on revenue stamps of Nepal, joined the UPU, 1888, July 21: became part of the Transvaal, South African Republic, 1891, June 27: Nepal revenue issue proclaimed a postage stamp, 1894: first, and only, stamps issued inscribed “Zululand,” 1897, Dec. 31: colony of Zululand annexed to Natal, 1898, June 30: Zululand stamps discontinued, stamps of Natal used, 1903, Jan.: transferred to Natal, part of the Union of South Africa; see Natal.
Zumstein: European series of catalogues.
Z.u.n.Z.: Armenia.
Zusammendruck: (Ger.) se-tenant.
Zum, Zm: Zumstein Specialized Switzerland and Liechtenstein Postage Stamp Catalog.
Zur ansicht: (Ger.) on approval.
Zur / Devisenüberwachung / zollamtlich / geöffnet: (Ger.) Opened by Customs to Inspect for Currency, seal used to reseal envelope after inspection of mail for currency inspection, 1930s.
Zurich: inscription on Swiss cantonal stamps for Zurich, March 1843-50.
Zurino: “Quick,”overprint on newspaper stamps of Hungary used by Croatians for special delivery.
Zurück: (Ger.) return.
Zusammendruck: (Ger.) se-tenant; two or more unseparated stamps having different colors, denominations, or designs; se-tenant is French for “joined together.”
Zusammenhangend: (Ger.) a connected pair of strip of stamps.
Zusatzfrankierung: (Ger.) additional postage.
Zysatzlich: (Ger.) : increased in any manner, additional
Zuschlag: (Ger.) surcharge.
Zwangszuschlagsmarke: (Ger.) compulsory surtax stamp.
Zwart: (Dut.) black color.
Zweifarbig: (Ger.) bicolored.
Zweisprachig: (Ger.) bilingual, two languages on the same stamp.
Zweiten Weltkreiges: (Ger.): second World War (WW 11) , (1939 / 1945).
Zwickau: 1: city in Germany, Courier local post, 1893-1900. 2: city in Germany, Express-Packet-Verkehr local post, 1889.
Zwischensteg: (Ger.) gutter.
Zwykla: (Pol.) regular/ordinary stamps of Poland.
Zypern: (Ger.) Cyprus.
Z.Z.Prac.Poczt. i Tel: Trade Union of the Post and Telecommunications Workers, Polish charity label for group that organized donations.

Y

Y:
1: Yorkshire, England, pre-adhesive postmark.
2: Renminbi Yuan, currency in Peoples Republic of China.
3: Scott Catalog number prefix for Revolutionary Government Postage (Philippines).
4: used instead of “i” in many words, such as “Yndies” West Indies, “Ysla” for island.

Y 1/4: overprint on stamps of the Spanish Antilles (Cuba and Puerto Rico) “Ynterior” for change in value as local post,1857.
Yacht keytype: colonial stamps of Germany picturing the Hohenzollern, yachet of Kaiser Wilhelm.
Y & T: Yvert et Tellier Catalogue, France.
Yafo: formerly Jaffa, contained Russian post office while in the Turkish Empire.
Yakutia: 2002, Jan. 14: illegal labels, purporting to be stamps, Russian Federation report to the UPU; not valid for postage.
Yamskoi Prikaz: (Russ.) postcoachmen’s office, recruited postmen for the mail-coaches.
Yang: specialized Hong Kong catalog.
Y.A.R.: Yemen Arab Republic.
Yarensk: city in Russia, Zemstvo local post; 1911-12, see Zemstvo.
Yassy: city in Russia, Zemstvo local post; 1879, see Zemstvo.
Yawaton Atoll: bogus issue for supposed Pacific island.
YCA: department of Peru, overprint on stamps of Arequipa, for provisional issue during occupation by Chile,1879-84, now known as Ica.
Y.C.C.P.: overprint on stamps of Ukraine semipostals, 1923.
Y compris: (Fr.) including.
YCTAB 1905: Montenegro, constitution.
YD: Year Date
Year of the Rose: term used in 1976 when Great Britain stamps bearing roses were issued for the Royal National Rose Society.
Year pack: sold by postal administrations and usually contain every stamp issued for the year being offered.
Yecla: city in Spain, Spanish Civil War local post, Republican forces, 1937.
Yegoryevsk: city in Russia, Zemstvo local post; 1868-98, see Zemstvo.
Yeh-Hien: East Chinese local post.
Yekaterinburg: city in Russia, Zemstvo local post; 1895-1912, see Zemstvo.
Yekaterinoslav: city in Russia, Zemstvo local post; 1872-76, see Zemstvo.
Yelets: city in Russia, Zemstvo local post; 1873-1899, see Zemstvo.
Yelisavetgrad: city in Russia, Zemstvo local post; 1870-1902, see Zemstvo.
Yellowhead Courier Express: local, Canada postal strike, 1980-81.
Yemen, Kingdom of: Arabian Peninsula on the Red Sea; currency: 40 bogaches = 1 imadi, 40 bogaches = 1 riyal (1962), 100 fils = 1 riyal (1978) 1918-pre: first postal service by Turks during Ottoman Empire, Turkish stamps with Arabic cancels, then a monarchy, 1926: No.1, 2 ½ bogaches black, local issue, Arabic inscription reads, “Sana. Government of Yemen by the Will of God. Yahya. May God Grant Him Success,” valid for domestic postage only as Yemen Arab Republic, 1930, Jan. 1: first foreign and domestic issue; joined the UPU, 1934: Saudi Arabia issued occupation stamps from Hodeida, 1942: first postage due stamp but were also used for regular postage, 1947: first air mail stamp, 1963: republic established after revolution stamps overprinted, “Free Yemen Fights for God, Imam and Country,” 1990: Yemen Arab Republic (North Yemen) and the People’s Democratic Republic of Yemen (South Yemen) planned to merge to form the Republic of Yemen, government ministries merged but civil war delayed completion.
Yemen, Mutawakelite Kingdom of: Royalist issues, not listed in Scott.
Yemen, People’s Democratic Republic of: southern Arabia, aka People’s Republic of Southern Yemen, currency: 1,000 fils = 1 dinar 1967, Nov.30: proclaimed People’s Republic of Southern Yemen when Federation of South Arabia became independent, 1968, April 1: No.1, 5 fils blue as People’s Democratic Republic of Yemen, overprint on stamps of Saudi Arabia, 1970, Nov. 30: became People’s Democratic Republic of Yemen, 1971, Feb. 1: first stamps as People’s Democratic Republic of Yemen, 1990: Yemen Arab Republic (North Yemen) and the People’s Democratic Republic of Yemen (South Yemen) planned to merge to form the Republic of Yemen, government ministries merged but civil war delayed completion.
Yemen, Southern: see Yemen, People’s Democratic Republic.
Yen, Yn: currency unit in Japan, Manchukuo, Ryukyu Islands.
Yen-Fu area: “Jan Fu” East China local post, 1943-44.
Yen-Ki Border sub-district: Yen Pien Post, Northeast China local post, 1946
Yerro: (Sp.) error.
Yeste: city in Spain, Spanish Civil War local post, Republican forces, 1937.
YF: Scott Catalog number prefix for Revolutionary Government Registration (Philippines).
Yil Donumu: postal tax, Turkey.
Yin-Cheng: Kiangsi, Central China local post, 1949.
Ying Yang: Chinese symbol of everything created and appears in watermark in stamps of China and Korea.
YKPAIHCbKA: (Resembles these letters) Ukraine.
Ykp. H.P.: overprint on stamps of Austria, 1918, for short-lived independent state; see Galicia, Eastern.
YKSI MARKKA: (Finn.) one mark; inscription on stamps of Finland, 1866-74.
Y.M.C.A. Dover: United Kingdom postal strike: local post 1971.
YMOS: Your Most Obedient Servants (Brit.)
YN: Japan, Manchukuo currency unit.
Yndias: (Sp.) Indies marking to be applied to mail from the Americas addressed to Spain or the Caribbean islands, 18th century.
Ynterior: (Sp.) misspelling of Interior; overprint of Spanish stamps for use in Cuba and Puerto Rico, 1857.
York EPS (Speed Post): United Kingdom postal strike: local post 1971.
Yougoslavie: (Fr.) Yugoslavia.
Young, Ladd & Coffin: inscription on Perfumery stamp; see Private die proprietary stamps. Indo-Chinese Post Offices.
Young’s City Parcel Delivery: private parcel delivery firm serviced Providence, R.I., 1890 used stamps.
YP: Scott Catalog number prefix for Revolutionary Government Newspaper (Philippines).
Y-roulette: Y shape of each cut, as found on New Zealand issues, 1859-62, 1d and 1s.
YT: Yukon Territory.
Yteke: Donald Evans issue, see Evans, Donald.
YU: international postal code for Serbia & Montenegro.
Yuan: currency unit in China, Manchukuo.
Yucatan: state in Mexico, No.1, 5 centavos violet, issue during Mexican revolution, 1924.
Yugoslavia: southern Europe on the Adriatic Sea, aka Jugoslavia; south-eastern Europe, currency: 100 heller = 1 krone (Bosnia-Herzegovina), 100 filler = 1 krone (Croatia-Slavonia) 100 paras = 1 dinar 1875, July 1: joined the UPU, 1918: formed as the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes; 1918, Nov.: Bosnia-Herzegovina had individual provincial stamps, 1918: Bosnia-Herzegovina issued semipostals, special delivery, 1918, Nov. 18: Croatia-Slavonia had individual provincial stamps which were stamps of Hungary overprinted “Hrvatska SHS” (Croatia Serbia, Hrvata, Slovenia), 1918: Croatia-Slavonia issued semipostal, special delivery, postage due, newspaper stamps, 1918, Dec.1: Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Dalmatia, Montenegro, Serbia and Slovenia united as a kingdom to what became known as Yugoslavia, 1919, Jan. 3: Slovenia had individual provincial stamps, 1919: Slovenia issued postage due, newspaper stamps, 1920: Carinthia plebiscite semipostal stamp issued, 1921, Jan.16: No.1, 2 paras olive-brown, first definitives for entire country, 1921, Jan. 30: first semipostal, postage due stamps, 1921, Dec. 24: continued membership in the UPU as, 1929, Oct.: name changed to Kingdom of Yugoslavia (land of the Southern Slavs), 1931: first stamp inscribed as Jugoslavia, 1933, Sept. 17: first postal tax, postal tax due stamps, 1934, June 15: first air mail stamp, 1941: occupied by Germany, established separate governments for Croatia, Serbia and Montenegro, each of which issued their own stamps, 1941-42: overprint on stamps of Yugoslavia for the Italian occupation of Fiume-Kupa Zone, 1941: province of Ljubljana (It.), Laibach (Ger.) occupied by Italy, issued “Co.Ci.” “Commissariato Civile” overprint on stamps of Yugoslavia, issued semipostals, air mails, postage dues, 1941, April 10: Croatia became an autonomous state, 1943: Yugoslav issued government-in-exile stamps from London for use of merchant navy, 1943: issued first Offices Abroad stamps, Offices Abroad semipostals, 1944: Laibach occupied by Germany used stamps of Italy overprinted / surcharged “Provinz Laibach,” regular postage, semipostal air mail, air mail special delivery, special delivery and postage due, 1944-post: Germans driven out and provisional government issued stamps for all of Yugoslavia, 1945, Nov. 29: republic replaced the monarchy, 1945: issues for Istria and the Slovene Coast (Zone B), first postage due, 1946, Nov.1: first official stamp, 1991: Macedonia declared its independence, 1992, Oct. 26: stamps of Yugoslavia surcharged for Bosnian Serb Administration 1993, June 28: first registered letter stamp, 1993-95: Republic of Serb Krajina, 2001, June 18: continued membership in the UPU as Serbia and Montenegro, 2003, Feb. 4: name changed to The State Union of Serbia and Montenegro, see Trieste.
Yugoslavia, German Occupation: 1944: stamps of Italy overprinted / surcharged.
Yugoslavia, Italian Occupation: 1944: stamps of Yugoslavia overprinted / surcharged.
Yugoslavia, Trieste: 1948: stamps issued by Yugoslav military government, 1954: Italy acquired northern section, Yugoslavia acquired southern section (Zone B).
Yu I: (Chinese) postal service.
Yu-Kiang: local post, Kiangsi area, Central China, 1949.
Yunnan Fou: overprint on stamps of French Indo-China, French Offices in China, 1906-19.
Yunnansen: overprint on stamps of French Indo-China, French Offices in China, 1903-05.
Yukon Airways & Exploration Co: local, Canada, 1927.
Yukon Territorial Court Law Stamp: tax stamp issued in 1902 as part of the Yukon Territorial Courts.
Yung-hsien: local post for West Szechuen, southwest China, 1949.
Yun-Meng: local post, Kiangso area, central China, 1949.
Yunnan: (Kunming) province of southwest China, 1926, Aug. 15: stamps of China overprinted in Chinese, overprint reads that stamps are only valid in Yunnan, 1935, July 31: stamps withdrawn due to local currency devaluation, French Post Offices, 1942: regional surcharge on stamps of China; see China, Indo-Chinese Offices. 1949, Dec.: Southwest China Liberation Area issued stamps for Yunnan Province.
Yunnansen, 1935, July 31: stamps withdrawn due to local currency devaluation, French Post Offices, see China,
Yunquera: city in Spain, Spanish Civil War local post, Nationalist forces, 1937.
YV: Yvert et Tellier catalog
Yvert & Tellier: stamp catalog for French speaking nations and the entire Mediterranean area.

W

W:
1: Scott Catalog number prefix for Wrapper.
2: auction abbreviation for with.
3. Waterworks, South Australia official overprint, 1868-74.

WA: USPS abbreviation for Washington.
Waagerechte paar: (Ger.) horizontal pair.
W.A.B.: Wien abzugs brief (Ger.) additional fee to be paid on delivery in Vienna.
Wachau, S.S.: steamship marking of the Danube Steam Navigation Company built around 1890s, for upper Danube lines.
W.A.D.E.S. Clayton’s: United Kingdom postal strike, local post 1971.
Wadhwan: India Feudatory State; 1888, July 1: first local typeset stamps, 1894: stamps discontinued, now in Saurashtra State, Republic of India.
Wadi-Halfa: city in the Sudan, Interpostal Seals used 1872-82, see Interpostal Seals.
WADP: World Association for the Development of Philately, formed by the UPU, FIP, AIJP, and ASCAT.
Wafer seal: see seal, wafer.
WAG: water activated gum.
Waghorn, Thomas: forwarding agent in Egypt, 1845.
Wagon lit: (Fr.) inscription for sleeping cars used on revenue stamps.
Wagon-post: (Fr.) mail van.
Wagon Service: pick-up and delivery mail service inaugurated in Washington, D.C. and New York, N.Y. on Oct. 1, 1896.
Wagshal shift: collector Jerome Wagshal discovered a plate variety on the 5¢ 1847 stamp.
Wahlkarte: (Ger.) election postal card.
Wahlspruch: (Ger.) slogan.
Währung: (Ger.) currency, money.
Waikoa Island: bogus, Polynesia-type fantasy,1965, 1970.
Wainwright Associates: United Kingdom postal strike, local post 1971.
Wales & Monmouthshire: stamps sold only at Wales & Monmouthshire post offices but valid for postage throughout Great Britain, except for Machin issues, 1958-69, inscribed “Postage Revenue.” 1958: No.1, 3 pence dark purple, 1971: Machin issue without “Postage Revenue,” 1999: stamps available in booklets.
Wales’ Express: private mail delivery service that operated between Boston and Beverly, Mass, used a label.
Walfisch Bay: part of Colony of Cape of Good Hope.
Walker & Co.s Express: private package delivery firm serviced Mass and Rhode Island, used a label.
Walker, Dr. J.: U.S. inscription on Medicine stamp; see Private die proprietary stamps.
Walker’s Penny Post: S. Allan Taylor label, 1865.
Wallachia: see Danubian principalities.
Wallasey Post: United Kingdom postal strike, local post 1971.
Walli & Futunaöarna: (Swed.) the Wallice & Futuna Islands..
Wallis and Futuna: islands in the south Pacific Ocean, French colony; Official name of postal administration: Service des Postes et Telecommunications. Currency: 100 centimes = 1 franc 1888: became a French Protectorate, used stamps of New Caledonia, 1917: became a French colony, 1920: No.1, 1 centime black on green, first stamps were overprint “Iles Wallis et Futuna” on stamps of New Caledonia, first postage due stamp, 1939, July 5: first semipostal stamp, 1941: stamps of New Caledonia overprinted “France Libre” Free France, 1946, May 6: first air mail stamp, 1961, July 29: became an overseas territory of the French Republic, 1962, July 19: first issue as an overseas territory.
Wallis & Futunaöarna: (Swed.) the Wallice & Futuna Islands..
Wallisisk: (Dan., Nor., Swed.) Welsh.
Wallpaper: unnecessary postal issues from countries which are considered to have little or no philatelic or monetary value.
Wallpaper covers: envelopes were made of wallpaper when paper shortage took place during the American Civil War.
Walsall Security Printers: printer of stamps for postal administrations located in Walsall, England.
Walterborough, S. C. Paid 10: see Confederate Postmasters’ Provisionals.
Walton & Co.’s City Express: U. S. local post, Brooklyn, N. Y., 1846.
Walton-Knost Express Company: private package delivery firm serviced St. Louis, Mo. area, used a circular label.
Waltzen, S.S.: steamship marking of the Danube Steam Navigation Company built around 1850s, for upper Danube lines.
Walzendruck: (Ger.) rotary press-printed.
Wampun money: New Netherlands director-general, 1657, ordered that all letters received at New Netherlands (New York) had to pay a fee of “three stivers of wampum,” equal to about three cents.
WAN: international postal code for Nigeria.
Wanajaavesi S.S. Co.: (Fin.) steamship; local post for use on steamships carrying mail, Finland, late 1800s.
Wan-An: Central Chinese local post (Kiangsi), 1949.
Wanderssstempel: (Ger.) type of hand cancellation used in German Southwest Africa.
Wanghia, Treaty of: U.S. 1844 treaty with China, opened five ports to American trade, consul stations and most-favored nation status.
Wan Kiang Area: (Anking) East China local post, 1945.
Wanman’s Caribooo Express: bogus label.
Wan-nan: East China local post, Wan-nan Post, 1949.
Want list: a listing, given to a stamp dealer or a collector, of stamps that are needed or wanted by the collector.
Wapen: (Ger.) Walloon Legion Waffen S.S. feldpost propaganda label.
Wapparn: (Fin.) Steamship; local post for use on steamships carrying mail, Finland, 1890s.
Wappen: (Ger.) coat of arms.
War: overprint on semipostal stamps of British Honduras, war tax stamps 1916-18.
Warawak: British Colonial Royal Wedding frames from book Surreal Stamps and Unreal Stickers.
War Between the States: American Civil War, name used for conflict in the Southern States.
War Board of Trade: 1918: stamps of Switzerland overprinted in German “Industrielle Kriegswirtschaft.”
War charity: 1: semipostal with a surcharge to raise funds for war. 2: overprint with “3.6.18” on stamps of Bahama semipostals, 1917-19.
Wardak: cinderella, liberated area during Afghanistan war.
Wardan: city in Egypt, Interpostal Seals used 1879-80, see Interpostal Seals.
Wärde: (Swed.) registration and insured mail handstamp for inland destinations, started 1873.
War Dep’t.: U.S. officials, used 1873-84 for departmental mail inWashington, D.C. and in Army posts throughout the country.
War Emergency Rate: World War I tax in form on increased postage rates to help pay for World War I, Nov. 2, 1917 to July 1, 1919.
Warmouth, A. Packet-Verkehr: Berlin, local post, Germany 1888-1900.
Warner’s Safe Cure Co.: inscription on Medicine stamp; see Private die proprietary stamps.
War of the Rebellion: American Civil War, name used in Northern States.
Warren Ave. Church Fair P.O.: S. Allan Taylor label, similar to Tabernacle Fair Post Office label.
Warrenton, Ga. Paid 5: see Confederate Postmasters’ Provisionals.
War Savings Stamps: issued by the Treasury Department.
Warsaw: city in Poland; 1915-16: Polish local post, 1918, Nov. 17: stamps of Warsaw local post surcharged, called “Warsaw Issues,” 1918: occupation stamps of Germany overprinted / surcharged “Poctzta Polska” Poland Post.
Warschau, Gen.-Gouv.: Warsaw, German occupation of Poland, 1916.
War Stamp: 1: overprint on stamps of British Commonwealth and Dominions. 2: the 1917 1¢ green stamp overprinted in two lines, unofficial, printed by Roessler. 3: stamp issued during war conditions.
Warszawa: (Pol.) Warsaw, Poland, 1918.
War tax: 1: stamp issued to help defray war costs; may be a surcharge and include normal value in addition to the tax. 2: Impuesto de Guerra (Sp.) Spain 1898.
War Tax: 1: overprint on Antigua, 1916-18. 2: overprint on stamps of Bahamas, British Guiana, 1918-19. 3: overprint on Barbados, 1917. 4: overprint on Bermuda, 1918 (Sc.42), 1920 (42a).
War tax stamps: stamps used on mail during periods of conflict to raise funds; the stamp was applied in addition to the regular postage.
Warwick’s City Dispatch Post: 1: local post, origin unknown. 2: S. Allan Taylor label, 1864.
Warwiszki: (Pol.) “Samorzad Warwiszki” Polish occupation, Mar. 23-27, 1923.
Wasa Rediviva: overprint for welfare group to raise money for Swedish museum honoring sunken ship Wasa.
Wash.: abbreviation for Washington prior to Zip Code usage.
Washed: used stamps that have had their cancels chemically removed to be illegally reused.
Was-Hee: American Journal of Philately fantasy.
Washington: became a U.S. territory March 2, 1853, state Nov. 11, 1889; cut from Oregon Territory.
Washington 2006: an international stamp show to be held in Washington, DC. in 2006.
Washington-Franklins: a series of approximately 350 stamps issued between 1908 and 1922, also known as the Third Bureau Issue.
Washington, Ga. Paid 10: see Confederate Postmasters’ Provisionals.
Washington Match Co.: inscription on Match stamp; see Private die proprietary stamps.
Washline: design of 1939 U.S. commemorative showing states hanging from Canadian border like wash on a line.
Was K: Washington, Kentucky, pre-adhesive postmark.
Wasserzeichen: (Ger.) watermark; a design, letter or word impressed in the paper during the manufacture of the paper; when found on a stamp is very helpful for identification purposes.
Water activated adhesive: the gum that requires moisture to perform on stamps.
Waterbury cancels: unusual postmarks used by postmaster, Waterbury, Conn., 1865-70.
Waterford, Dungarvan & Lismore Railway: Ireland railway local post.
Waterford, Limerick & Western Railway: Ireland railway local post.
Waterford, Limerick Railway: Ireland railway local post.
Waterlow & Sons, Limited London: 1951 printer’s imprint on Afghanistan stamps.
Waterlow paper: thick, soft paper made by Waterlow for New Zealand issues, 1900, came with and without watermark.
Watermark (Wmk.): a design, letter or word impressed in the paper during the manufacture of the paper; when found on a stamp is very helpful for identification purposes; note the watermark should read correctly when viewed from the front of the stamp
Watermark detector: a black tray of glass or enameled metal in which a special fluid is placed on top of the stamp to reveal the watermark.
Watermark tray: black plastic tray used in detection of watermarks on stamps; black is used so that the watermark will appear darker than surrounding paper.
WATERSNOOD: overprint on stamps of the Netherlands for flood relief, 1953.
“WATERSNOODNEDERLAND”: overprint on stamps of Netherlands Antilles (Curacao) for flood relief.
Water soluble gum: natural gums usage on postage stamps until 1960; used in commerce in Biblical era.
Water soluble ink: ink on a stamp that dissolves when immersed in water.
W Australia: Western Australia.
Wavy-Line roulette: a shallow-toothed serpentine roulette, such as on Victoria 1854-57, 6d.
Wavy-Line stamps: Danish issues picturing wavy lines in the design.
Way mail/letter: letters to be delivered to a post office between the terminals of the route.
Way marking: mail picked up by carriers on their way between two post offices, carrier indicates coach, rider, steamboat or other contract agency carrying mail between post offices, way markings are usually collect, applied at the receiving post office, when the cover entered the U.S. Post Office Department mail system.
Way pouch: a pouch containing mail for post offices along a certain route; it is opened at each post office to remove local mail and add mail from that office to other destinations on the route.
Wayzata: Aerial World Airways persuaded the Newfoundland government to issue a stamp in 1932 to finance purchase of a plane for a route from Wayzata, Minnesota via several cities to England; sales were poor and the scheme fell through.
Wax seal: see Seal, wax.
Wazan: local post between Wazan and Alcazar, Morocco, Nov. 1896.
W / C: auction abbreviation for well centered.
WD: Walter H. Doxen, BEP employees initials, 1906-1928; see Plate Finisher, Siderographer.
Weak: term applied to stamps that are not bad enough to be called damaged, usually a slightly thin or shortened corner.
Weatherford, Tex. Paid 5: see Confederate Postmasters’ Provisionals.
Weather forecasts: on U.S. Mail, U.S. Post Office Dep’t. project for distributing local weather forecast information; c1895.
Web: a continuous roll of rotary press printing paper used for printing stamps.
Webb’s Express: private package delivery firm serviced Boston andsalem, Mass., used a label.
Web presses: webfed presses use a continuous roll of paper fed into the press.
Web sites: locations on the Worldwide Web portion of the Inernet where both commercial and non-commercial philatelic information is presented. Each web site has its own address, i.e., URL (Uniform Resource Locator).
Wedding band: term used for the US 5c air mail issued in 1948 with a band around the five New York boroughs.
Wedding Prince Edward and Sophie Rhys-Jones: common design of the British Commonwealth of Nations stamps, 1999.
Weed’s Express: private package delivery firm serviced New York City, N.Y.area, used a label.
Weekend warrior: a dealer who only sells stamps on weekends at stamp shows.
Weeks & Potter: inscription on Medicine stamp; see Private die proprietary stamps.
Weens Rublis: surcharge, stamps of Latvia, 1920-21.
Weeping Princess: Canadian stamp showing Princess Elizabeth with a teardrop under her right eye, 1935.
WEF: William E. Franke, BEP employees initials, 1906-1928; see Plate Finisher, Siderographer.
Wei-Hai-Wei: 1: Liu King Tao/Chefoo Courier Post, China local post, late 1890s. 2: Dragonboat Regatta, unissued Great Britain cinderellas by David Horry, 2001
Weihnachten: “Christmas,” unofficial German overprint on stamps of Italy for Rhodes, Aegean Slands, 1944.
Weihnachtsmarke: (Ger.) Christmas seal.
Weimar: Courier local post, 1893-94.
Weimar issue: see Deutsche National Versammlung.
Weimar Republic: mythical stamp entity in the movie, Nine Queens, filmed in Argentina.
Weihnachten: unofficial German overprint on stamps of Italy for Rhodes, Aegean Islands, 1944.
Wei Nan: Northwest China local post (Shensi) 1949.
Weinrot: (Ger.) claret (color).
Weisbecker: Donald Evans issue, New York, see Evans, Donald.
Weise Karte: (Ger.) white card, United Nations.
Weisenfels: (Ger.) Courier local post, Germany, 1893-96.
Weissrussland: (Ger.) White Russia.
Welch’s Express: private package delivery firm serviced New York City, and Greenport, N.Y., used labels.
Well centered: stamp having an even margin on all four sides.
Wells & Co. Express: private mail delivery firm serviced Buffalo, N.Y., Cleveland, Detroit.and Chicago, Ill. used labels.
Wells & Co’s. Express: private mail delivery firm serviced Buffalo, N.Y, to New York City, used labels.
Wells & Co’s. Express: private mail delivery firm serviced Boston, Mass. area, used labels.
Wells Fargo and Co.: U. S. local post, 1861-88; operated stage routes carrying mail, freight and passengers to and from the West from 1849; firm issued stamps and applied cancels to envelopes which are considered very desirable; used corner cards, labels and stamps.
Wells Letter Express: first commemorative stamp issued in the U.S., for Perry’s war of 1812 depicting victory on Lake Erie.
Wells, Richardson & Co.: inscription on Medicine stamp; see Private die proprietary stamps.
Welthungerhilfe: (Ger.) World Hunger Relief
Weltpostverein: (Ger.) world post, UPU.
Weltraum: (Ger.) world of space.
Wenden: town in former Russian province of Livonia, then in Latvia as Vidzeme; 1863-1901: issued own Zemstvo stamps; see Russia.
Wenden(schen): Russia-Wenden, former Province, 1862-64.
Wenden Kries: Russia, Livonia; District of Wenden.
Werbemarke: (Ger.) propaganda stamp.
Werbestempel: (Ger.) propaganda slogan / cancel.
Werdau: city in Germany, Courier local post, 1893-95.
“Wer ein Volk retten will kann nur heroisch denken”: (He who wants to save his people must think heroically) on four stamp souvenir sheet depicting Hitler for first time, April 5, 1937; also issued in Hitler skull parody produced by the U. S. Office of Strategic Services.
Wert: (Ger.) value, denomination.
Wertangabe: (Ger.) face value.
Wertaufdruck: (Ger.) surcharge
Wertangabe: (Ger.) inscription on insured parcel post label of Germany.
Wertbriefe: (Ger.) insured mail.
Wervtoll: (Ger.) valuable..
WES: Walter E. Spring, BEP employees initials, 1906-1928; see Plate Finisher, Siderographer.
West African Monetary Union: common design on stamps of the French Community of Nations, 1972.
Westar: U.S. satellite used for transmission of Mailgrams, launched April 13, 1974, first transmission made Sept. 6, 1974, delivered by the USPS.
W(est) Australia: Western Australia.
West Berlin: western part of former German capital, had its own stamps since Sept. 1948.
West Clare Railway Company: Irish railway that printed stamps for mail carried on their trains then taken to post offices for delivery.
West Coast: local post overprint on stamps of Sumatra for Japanese occupation, 1942-45.
Westcott Express Co.: parcel delivery firm serviced Brooklyn, N.Y. and New York City.; used stamps, booklets.
Westcott, J. W.: mailboat based at port of Detroit, Michigan.
West End London L.P.S.: United Kingdom postal strike, local post 1971.
Wester Local Post: see Hälsingborg – E. S. Wester Local Post.
Western Army; North-Western Army: 1918-20: overprint of stamps of Russia; see Northern Army, and Western Army.
Western Australia: western part of Australia, former British Crown Colony, currency: 12 pence = 1 shilling, 20 shillings = 1 pound 1854, Aug. 1: No. 1, 1 pence black, 1859: used oval with bars as cancel, 1882: first postal fiscal stamp issued, 1891: joined the UPU, 1901, Jan. 1: one of six British colonies that formed the Commonwealth of Australia, 1913: stamps of Australia used; see Commonwealth of Australia.
Western Australian Government Railways: local post, Australia, early 1900s.
Western Canada: bogus, 1981.
Western Canada Airways: local post, Canada, 1927.
Western Chyan: bogus Burma issue related to Dam Batai.
Western Express Mail: private mail served the mining regions of California and Nevada where government postal service was inadequate.
Western Front: France, German occupation, 1914-18.
Western Isles: rocket post labels, United Kingdom local post, 1934.
Western Laurania: fantasies created by John de Treville with countries taken from Winston Churchill’s book, Savrola.
Western Sahara: Saharan republic, illegal issues, not issued by Morocco, based on UPU circular of Nov. 18, 2002.
Western Samoa: inscription/overprint on stamps of New Zealand, 1935, for Samoa under British dominion; see Samoa.
Western Thrace: located between Greece and Bulgaria; 1919: postage due stamps of Bulgaria overprinted for postage due. 1920: stamps of Greece overprinted, stamps of Turkey surcharged, see Thrace.
Western Turkey: 1912-13: Balkan Wars; Greece occupied part of Western Turkey, area became known as the New Greece.
Western Ukraine: eastern Central Europe; formerly known as Galicia, once part of Austria; currency: 100 shahiv (sotykiv) = 1 hryvnia, 100 heller = 1 krone 1918: No. 1, 5 shahiv on 15 hryvnia dull red, overprint on stamps of Austria, 1918: registration stamp known as the Kolomya Issue, 1918, Dec.12: provisional government, independent as Western Ukraine, used overprinted “Ykp. H.P.” stamps of Austria, 1919: stamps of Austria surcharged for Romanian occupation of Pokutia, Ukraine, 1919: stamps of Austria surcharged for postage due, 1919: absorbed by Poland.
Western Union Telegraph Company: U. S. telegraph stamps issued for use on firm’s telegrams, 1871-1946.
Western United Powers: Donald Evans issue; see Evans, Donald.
Westerstede: city in Germany, local post, Germany, 1945-48.
Westervelt’s Post: U. S. local post, Chester, N. Y., about 1863-65.
West Florida: see Republic of West Florida.
West Fukien: Chinese Red Post, local post, 1930-31.
West Furland: fantasy, no information available.
West India Manufacturing Co.: inscription on Medicine stamp; see Private die proprietary stamps.
West Indies: consists of Anguilla, Antigua, Aruba, Barbados, Bonaire, British Virgin Islands, Curacao, Dominica, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Martinique, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, St. Christopher-Nevis, Trinidad and Tobago, and the Virgin Islands.
West Indies Associated States: formed in1967, consisted of Antigua, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia and St. Vincent.
West Indies Federation: common design of the British Commonwealth of Nations, April 1958.
West Irian: western half of New Guinea, aka Irian Barat, West New Guinea; currency: 100 cents = 1 gulden, 100 sen = 1 rupiah, 1 rupiah = 1 gulden 1962: No.1, 1 cent vermilion and yellow, stamps of Netherlands New Guinea overprinted “UNTEA” United Nations Temporary Executive Authority, 1963, May 1: freed from West New Guinea rule, Indonesian administration; first postage due, 1973: used stamps of Indonesia; see Irian Barat, Netherlands New Guinea, United Nations West New Guinea.
West Lancashire Railway: British railway local post.
Westland: bogus stamp created by Mr. West.
West Liao-ning Area: Northeast China local post, 1945.
West Middlesex Courier: United Kingdom postal strike, local post 1971.
West New Guinea: see Netherlands New Guinea.
Westonbirt School Mail: United Kingdom postal strike, local post 1971.
Weston’s Express: parcel delivery firm serviced Boston and Plymouth, Mass., used labels.
Westphalia: fantasies created by John de Treville with countries taken from Winston Churchill’s book, Savrola.
Westpoint Falkland Islands: labels that resemble postage stamps; not valid for postage.
West Refaim: cinderellas produced in Europe about 1924 as stamps, picture postcards and cancellations.
West Riding & Grimsby Railway: British railway local post.
West Riding Strike Post: United Kingdom postal strike, local post 1971.
West Russian Army: 1919: occupation of Kurland by Co. Bermondt-Avalov using stamps of Latvia handstamped or overprinted with a symbol meaning “Z.A.” Zapadnaya Armiya, Western Army, 1940: another set of stamps was issued during Russian occupation of the area.
West-Sachsen: Germany, Soviet occupation of West Saxony, 1945-46.
West Srem (Vukovar): bogus overprint on stamps of Yugoslavia for Bosnian Republic.
West Szechuen: People’s Post, Southwest China, China People’s Republic, 1950.
Westtown: U. S. local post, Westtown, Pa., 1853-67, used by The Westtown School as training usage of stamps for franking letters.
Westubgarn-Orgland: (Hung.) Western Hungary, local post, 1921.
Westvaco: printers of U.S. postal stationery.
West Vinland: supposedly a colony of Occussi Ambeno.
West Virginia: became a U.S. state June 20, 1863; taken from Virginia in American Civil War.
Wet paper: paper that has been dampened before printing.
Wet printing: has a moisture content of 15-35% compared to 5-10% for “dry” printing; also has a duller look than “dry” printing.
Weybridge Emergency Post: United Kingdom postal strike, local post 1971.
WF: auction abbreviation for waterfalls, topical.
W.f.: abbreviation for wrong font, when a wrong letter or another style appears.
WFB: William F. Blue, BEP employees initials, 1906-1928; see Plate Finisher, Siderographer.
WF Heads: the heads of Washington and Franklin on the third Bureau issues from1908 to 1922.
W.FR.: Weiter Franco (Ger.) paid to part destination, figure indicates balance due on delivery.
WFUNA: World Federation of United Nations Association, produces its own cacheted covers to benefit the UN.
Whall’s Express: private parcel delivery firm serviced Mass., used a label.
Wharton’s U. S. P. O. Despatch: 1857, Louisville, Ky; see Carriers’.
Wheat Sheaf: as overprint on stamps of Republic of Hungary when kingdom was restored.
Wheel of fortune cancel: resembles a roulette wheel.
Whitby & Port Perry Express Company: private parcel delivery firm that serviced Whitby and Port Perry, Ontario, area, used a label.
White back: surface-coated paper, with the base white; used in British Colonial stamps during 1914-19 as substitute for colored pulp papers.
White border period: postal stationery from 1915-1930 with a white border surrounding the illustration.
White Plains: U.S. stamp or souvenir sheet honoring the Battle of White Plains.
White Poppy: U.S. Navy postal code name during WW II for Noumea, New Caledonia.
White Queen: Canada’s 14¢ Queen Elizabeth II stamp, Scott 716, with red background color and tagging omitted.
White Russia: aka Belorussia, Russia, adjoining Poland; 1920: stamps for Ruthenian Army Corps, postal use in doubt, see Belarus.
White’s Branch Express: private mail delivery firm serviced northern New Jersey, used a label.
Whitesides, B.: firm carried mail “across the lines” during the American Civil War.
White’s Railroad Express: private mail delivery firm serviced Mass., used a label.
Whiting & Co. Express: private mail delivery firm serviced Plumas and Butte Counties, Calif., used a label.
Whitlock Metered Mail Co.: U.S. postage meter firm, 1929-33, acquired by National Postal Meter Co.
Whitney Transfer Company: private parcel delivery firm serviced an unknown area, used stamps.
Whittelsey’s Express: 1: US local post, Chicago, Ill. 1857. 2: bogus U. S. local post, S. Allan Taylor.
Whitten’s Express: private mail delivery firm serviced Boston and Newburyport, Mass., used a label.
W.H.L.: W. H. Lortimer, postal official of Colonial post office at Georgetown, British Guinea, 1850-51 issue.
WHO: World Health Organization: 1: common design on stamps of the French Community of Nations, 1968. 2: common design of the British Commonwealth of Nations, 1966.
Whole sheet: sheet is absolutely unbroken with sheet margin intact.
“Who-lidays”: USPS pictorial cancel used in 1999-2000 as a joint promotion with movie, The Grinch Who Stole Christmas.
W.H.W.: see Winterhilfswerk des Deutschen Volkes.
WI: 1: USPS abbreviation for Wisconsin.2: West Indies
WIAE: West Indian Aerial Express (USA).
Wide space overprints: usually found on Bureau precancels due to misapplication of the overprinting plate.
Widin, S.S.: steamship marking of the Danube Steam Navigation Company built around 1850s, for various Danube lines.
Widows’ franks: widows of deceased presidents free frank, Act of Congress, 1940.
Wien: (Ger.) Vienna.
Wiener Messe: label with flying rocket and overprint issued for Vienna Fair.
Wiener Privat-Telegrafen Gesellschaft: (WR.PR.TEL.GES.) (Ger.) Vienna Private Telegraph Co., 1870.
Wiesbaden: city in Germany, local post, Transport-Anstalt und Privat-Post, 1886-1900.
Wigan Junction Railway: British railway local post.
Wiggins, Teape paper: firm supplied paper for New Zealand stamps in1872 (watermarked WT & Co.), 1925-26 (thin, hard and surfaced) and 1935-40 (unsurfaced rag).
Wikingland: cinderella for artificial island in North Sea.
Wilayah Persekutuan: Malayasia-Kuala Lumpur; 1986, Oct. 25: used Agriculture and State Arms designs of Johore, stamps of Malaysia.
Wilder, Edward: inscription on Medicine stamp; see Private die proprietary stamps.
Wilding stamps: nickname for British 1952 stamps with portrait of Queen Elizabeth II by Dorothy Wilding.
Wildlife Courier Post: private fantasy label made by Gale J. Raymond, international courier.
Wilkinsburg Stamp Club: produced spoof souvenir sheets for their annual exhibition since 1961.
Willard Delivery Company: private parcel delivery firm serviced an unknown area, labels exist.
Will Call: printed on postcard; used by salesmen to advise their customers date of arrival in their vicinity.
Willett’s Express: private parcel delivery firm serviced Boston and Ipswich, Mass., used a label, 1847.
Williams, Dr., Medicine Co.: inscription on Medicine stamp; see Private die proprietary stamps.
William’s City Post: 1854, Cincinnati, Ohio.; see Carriers” Stamps.
Williamson, J. J.: patented a money order postal card, liberty head design of 1875.
Willpost, Liverpool: United Kingdom postal strike; local post 1971.
Wilmington: city in the US; Roche’s City Dispatch, local post, 1850.
Wilmington Parlor Match Co.: inscription on Match stamp; see Private die proprietary stamps.
Wilson, Rev. E. A.: inscription on Medicine stamp; see Private die proprietary stamps.
Wilson, Thos. E., M.D.: inscription on Medicine stamp; see Private die proprietary stamps.
Wimborne Post: United Kingdom postal strike; local post 1971.
Wimer, John M.: postmaster, St. Louis, Mo., 1845, issued Postmaster’s Provisional stamps.
Wimponia: cinderella for Kingdom of Popeye’s friend, Wimpy.
Winan’s City Post: bogus, U.S. local post featuring a flying bomb, late 1800s or early 1900s; label was so successful, that several imitations also sold very well.
Winchester & Co.’s Express: private mail delivery firm serviced Boston and Gloucester, Mass., used labels.
Winchester and District: United Kingdom postal strike; local post 1971.
Winchester paper: security paper using a heavy cross section of thick bluish semi-circles; found on stamps of Venezuela, 1932-38.
Winchester Post: United Kingdom postal strike; local post 1971.
Window booklets: British term for red-covered retail stamp booklets which are sold by private retailers.
Window envelopes: envelopes with a transparent panel in the front through which the address of the enclosure is visible.
Windward Islands: British West Indies island group made up of St. Lucia, St. Vincent, Grenada and Dominica; Scuba Diving, Sea Garden Nassau, The Pitons of St. Lucia inscriptions, unissued Great Britain cinderellas by David Horry, 2001.
Wine stamps: conventional revenue stamps denominated in currency, used to pay taxes on cases of wine and cordials;1914-54.
Winged propeller: design as overprint on stamps of Switzerland for air mail.
Winged wheel: design as overprint for Belgium, officials for National Railways.
Wing margin: the extra unprinted margin left as part of a stamp by the perforating machine.
Wings for Norway: a commemorative issued in Norway and “Little Norway” Canada in 1946
Winnipeg Messenger Co.: parcel delivery firm that used a stamp; serviced Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada; year unknown.
Winnipeg Pembina: local post, Winnipeg, Canada, late 1970s.
Winnsborough, S.C. Paid 5: see Confederate Postmasters’ Provisionals.
Winslow & Co.’s Express: bogus local post, Canada, A. Allan Taylor, 1864..
Winslow’s Express: private mail and parcel delivery firm serviced Boston, Mass and Portland, Maine, 1841-47; bogus S. Allan Taylor labels exist..
Winter gum: U.S. stamps prepared with “soft” gum intended for use when weather is cold and dry to protect stamps from curling, cracking and breaking; 1904-06.
Winterhilfe: (Ger.) overprint on stamps of Austria and Germany, semipostal to help the poor in winter. .
Winterhilfswerk des Deutschen Volkes (WHW): (Ger.)“Winter Relief of the German People,” inscription, largest charity of the Third Reich, used for a range of stamps, booklet covers, etc.
Winterhulp: (Dut.) overprint on stamps of the Netherlands, semipostal.
Winter relief: charity or semipostal stamps to aid the poor in winter.
WIPA: Wiener Internationale Postwertzeichen-Ausstellung (Ger.) Vienna International Postal Exhibition, 1881, 1890, 1933, 1965, 1981, and 2000.
Wiping creases: marks caused by damaged cleaning blades left on the surface of the plate before printing.
Wiremark: original term for a watermark.
Wirral & W. Lancashire: United Kingdom postal strike; local post 1971.
Wirral Junction Railway: British railway local post.
Wirrzähnungen: inconsistant or irregular perforations
Wir Sind Frei: (Ger.) overprint on stamps of Czechoslovakia, German Occupation, unofficial stamp, 1938.
Wis: 1. Wisconsin, pre-adhesive postmark. 2. abbreviation for Wisconsin prior to Zip Code usage.
Wisconsin: became a U.S. territory July 4, 1836, state May 29, 1848; area cut from Michigan Territory.
Wiscowsin, State of: fantasy issue created by a stamp dealer in Wisconsin.
Wise & Co.: inscription on Match stamp; see Private die proprietary stamps.
Wisen Local Post: see Malmö – G. Wisen Local Post.
Withdrawn lot: an auction lot removed from sale for any one of various reasons; misdescription, misidentification, lot lost or misplaced, or lot not having reached the reserve price.
Without gum: stamp issued with gum but lost the gum somewhere, somehow.
Wittenberg: city in Germany, local post; 1: Wittenberg, Lutherstadt, 1945-48. 2: Courier, 1896-99.
Wituland: German East Africa speculative stamps manufactured by Denhardt Bros. in 1889, listed in Michel catalogue; see Suaheliland.
Witwen und Waisen-Woche: overprint on stamps of Bosnia, semipostal for “Widows and Orphans Week.”
WJ: Walter Jahnke, BEP employees initials, 1906-1928; see Plate Finisher, Siderographer.
WK: William R. Kern, BEP employees initials, 1906-1928; see Plate Finisher, Siderographer.
Wloclawek: city in German-occupied Russian Poland, local post overprint, 1918-20.
Wmk: see Watermark.
WMMH: Scott Catalog number prefix for Machins (Great Britain Wales & Monmouthshire).
Wn: currency in Korea.
WNS (WAPD Numbering System): assigns numbers to stamps issued by participating postal administrations; see World Association for the Development of Philately.
WO: 1: Scott Catalog number prefix for Official Wrapper. 2: Way Office.
W/O: without.
W/OG: Without Original Gum
Wohltätigkeits Ausgabe: (Ger..) charity stamps: stamps sold at more than the inscribed face value, with the difference between the face value and the selling price used for charity work; these are often called semipostal stamps.
Woldenberg: Polish officers camp, local post, 1942-44.
Wolmaransstd: town in the Transvaaal, South Africa; 1900, June 23: local stamps overprinted “Cancelled V.R.I.” during South-African war.
Wolmar-Ronnenberg: bogus, Latvia, Wolmar District, 1918.
Wolverhampton-Birmingham: United Kingdom postal strike; local post 1971.
Won, Wn, Wun: currency unit in North Korea and South Korea.
Wonderland: cinderella based on Lewis Carroll’s famous country.
Wood & Co. City Despatch: U.S. local post, Baltimore, Md., 1856.
Woodblocks: Cape of Good Hope 1861 issues that were printed from stereotypes mounted on small wooden blocks.
Woodley Island: bogus, no information available.
Woodworth, C. B. & Son: inscription on Perfumery stamp; see Private die proprietary stamps.
Woody Wagon: term used for U.S. stamp, issued Aug. 3, 2001 showing a wood-paneled station wagon automobile.
Woon, won: South Korean currency converted to hwan.
Working die: an intermediate die created through a transfer process from the original engraved die to creat a printing base.
Working model: when referred to a stamp design, is the ink-and-paper design, prepared by a designer for use of the engraver.
World Association for the Development of Philately (WADP): A department of the Universal Postal Union (UPU), which includes International Federation of Philately (FIP) and other international organizations.
World-Capitalism: forgery printed by Germany on British stamp, WW II.
World Government: cinderella, no information available.
World Health Organisation: 1948: founded with overprint Organization Mondiale de la Sante (Fr.) on stamps of Switzerland for League of Nations, 1962: first commemorative stamp.
World Intellectual Property Organization: 1970: founded, took over duties of the United International Bureau for the Protection of Intellectual Property, 1974: became a United Nations agency, 1982, May 27: first official stamps issued inscribed Organisation de la Propriete Intellectuelle (Fr.).
World Meteorological Organisation: 1956: overprint on stamps of Switzerland for United Nations, 1973: first commemorative stamp, 1973, Dec. 15: common design on stamps of Portugal and Colonies. World Scout Jamboree: overprint on stamps of Aitutaki, 1987.
World Nations League: pseudo United Nations; a Henry Stull fantasy, once listed in Ohio telephone book under “Stamps for Collectors.
World’s Dispensary Medical Assocn.: inscription on Medicine stamp; see Private die proprietary stamps.
World-Slavery: forgery printed by Germany on British stamp, WW II.
World Stamp Championship (WSC): an International Federation of Philately (FIP) competition among traditional exhibits which received 90 or more points in a FIP world exhibtion.
World Telecommunications Conferences: U.S. booklets communication stamps, 1947.
World War II: common design of the British Commonwealth of Nations, 1995.
Worldwide Post: United Kingdom postal strike; local post 1971.
Worms: city in Germany, local post, Privat-Stadt-Post Wormatia, 1895-1900.
Worn impression: stamp printed where the printing surface shows signs of deterioration.
Worn plate: a plate where parts of the design are worn so that they fail to print properly.
Worthing Alpha Mail: United Kingdom postal strike; local post 1971.
Worthing Private P.S.: United Kingdom postal strike; local post 1971.
Wove paper: smooth, even finished paper without watermarks that is suitable for all types of stamp printing.
w/PR: auction term for “with prices realized.”
WR: auction abbreviation for topical military.
Wrangel issues: Nov.1920; stamps of Russia surcharged for the mail of internees of Gen.Peter Wrangel’s army and civilian refugees from South Russia, stamps suppressed May 31, 1921, see Russia, South.
Wrap: a protective paper covering, applied by a postal employee, placed over a postmarked stamp on a cover, to protect it during its postal journey to the addressee.
Wrapper: a postal stationery item with an imprinted stamp design used in the mailing of newspapers; usually wrapped around a newspaper or periodical.
WRB: William R. Brown, BEP employees initials, 1906-1928; see Plate Finisher, Siderographer.
Wreck cover: item of mail that has been salvaged from a train, plane or ship wreck.
Wrexham, Mold & Connah’s Quay Railway: British railway local post.
Wright, R. & G.A.: inscription on Perfumery stamp; see Private die proprietary stamps.
Wright’s Indian Vegetable Pills: inscription on Medicine stamp; see Private die proprietary stamps.
Writing U.D.N.Y.: writing Undercover Division, New York; marking indicates that contents of envelope was checked for fraudulent use of discount classes of mail.
Wroclaw: formerly Breslau, Poland.
WS: Scott Catalog number prefix for War Savings.
W.T.: 1: can refer to Washington or Wisconsin Territories in a postmark. 2: (Ire.) Wet Time overprint on Irish unemployment labels.
WTP (WP): William T. Powers, BEP employees initials, 1906-1928; see Plate Finisher, Siderographer.
Wugu: emergency issue of three stamps prepared for use in German East Africa, but never issued.
Wuhan: formerly Hankow, China.
Wuhu: city in China, local post, 1894-97.
Wuppertal: city in Germany, 1: Courier local post. 1894-1900. 2: Express-Packet-Verkehr, 1886. 3: Privat-Brief-Verkehr, 1886-87.
Württemberg: German State in southern Germany; currency: 60 kreuzer = 1 gulden (1851), 100 pfenning = 1 mark (1875) 1775: Thurn and Taxis had a 30 year agreement to run the posts, 1805: Thurn and Taxis agreement expired, not renewed, 1819: Thurn and Taxis ran the posts until 1851, paid a fee for this privilege, 1851, April 1: joined the German-Austrian Postal Union, 1851. Oct. 15: No.1, 1 kreuzer black, buff, 1870: became part of the German Empire, but kept issuing its own stamps, 1875: first official stamp, 1902, March 31: relinquished its postal authority, could issue official stamps only, 1919, April 26: joined the German Republic, 1920, March 31: stamps no longer valid, sold postal rights to Germany, 1923: official stamps discontinued, used stamps of Germany, French Occupation, German State. 1947: French occupation with denominations in PF (Pfenning) or M (Mark), 1949, Feb. 25: first semipostal occupation stamp, French occupation.
Würzburg: city in Germany, Private-Stadebriefverkehr local post, 1896-97.
Wurzen: city in Germany, 1. Courier local post, 1893. 2. local post, 1945-48.
Wu-Shan: city in southwest China, local post West Szechuen, 1949.
Wu-Tu: city in northwest China, local post Kansu, 1949.
WV: 1: U.S. Sanitary Fair. Scott catalog number prefix to identify stamps other than standard postage. 2: USPS abbreviation for West Virginia.
W.Va.: abbreviation for West Virginia prior to Zip Code usage.
WW: 1. abbreviation for worldwide. 2. William Wapple, BEP employees initials, 1906-1928; see Plate Finisher, Siderographer.
WWF: World Wildlife Fund.
WW I: abbreviation for World War I.
WW II: abbreviation for World War II.
WW II Eastern Occupations Study Group: Germany Philatelic Society section studying countries under German occupation after World War II.
WWM: William W. Malone, BEP employees initials, 1906-1928; see Plate Finisher, Siderographer.
WX: Scott Catalog number prefix for U.S. Christmas Seals.
WY: USPS abbreviation for Wyoming.
Wyman, W.: U. S. local post, Boston and New York, 1844.
Wymiana: (Pol.) exchange label used by the Polish Union of Philatelists when collectors in Poland want to send philatelic material out of the country.
Wyo.: abbreviation for Wyoming prior to Zip Code usage.
Wyoming: became a U.S. territory July 29, 1868, state July 10, 1890, cut from Dakota, Idaho and Utah territories.
Wyst. Filat 1934 Katowice: (Pol.) Poland overprint for 1934 philatelic exhibition in Katowice..
Wytheville, Va..Paid 5: see Confederate Postmasters’ Provisionals.
WZ: (Ger.) Wasserzeichen, watermark.

V

V:
1: label used in Iceland to indicate letter or parcels with a declared value.
2: Flat plate imperf. coil; Scott Catalogue suffix to identify stamps other than standard postage; also called “H.”
3: registration label.
4: in corners of triangular Czechoslovakia personal delivery stamp.
5: Valencia (Spain), Venezia (Venice, Italy); Vicenza (Italy) pre-adhesive postmark.
6: Vatu; currency unit in Vanuatu.
7: V, VV, VVV: symbols used in indicate degree of value.
8: Victory in WW II on stamps of Belgium.
9: Colombia-Scadta consular overprint for Venezuela.
10:. Volunteers, South Australia official overprint, 1868-74.
11: overprint on stamps of Norway for successful invasion of country by the Germans, 1941.
12: prefix letter used by Avery Dennison in front of plate number.

VA: USPS abbreviation for Virginia, also pre-adhesive postmark.
V.A.: Valuator and Auctioneer, South Australia official overprint, 1868-74.
Vaba Esti: “Free Estonia” overprint made by postmaster when Germany defeated Russia and invaded Moisakulla, Aug. 4-12, 1941.
Våben: (Dan.) coat-of-arms.
Vacation stamps: postpaid tourist labels for use of Swedish nationals to be applied to postcards at vacation locals for delivery anywhere in Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Finland, a cooperative effort of tour operators and the Swedish post office; used from Dec. 13, 1994 to late 1998.
Vacker: (Swed.) beautiful.
Vada: (Czech.) defect, fault.
Vada Lepu: (Czech.) gum fault.
Vadsø: city in Norway local bypost, 1893-95.
Vaduz-Sevelen: city in Liechtenstein, local issue, 1918; see Schweizer Post.
Værdi: (Dan.) value.
Værdibrev: (Dan.) insured cover.
Vaglia: (It.) postal money order.
Vágott (also nem fogazott): (Hung.) imperforate.
Vågrätt: (Swed.) horizontal, see Horisontal.
Vågrätt veck: (Swed.) horizontal crease.
Vaike-Pakri: bogus Russian issue, not valid for postage.
Vaikus: bogus issue.
Vaitupu: one of the Tuvalu islands, issued stamps starting in 1984; see Tuvalu-Vaitupu.
Valdai: city in Russia, Zemstvo local post; 1871-88, see Zemstvo.
Valdepenas: city in Spain, Spanish Civil War local post, Republican forces, 1937
Valdosta, Ga. Paid 10: see Confederate Postmasters’ Provisionals.
Vale: (Sp.) is valid, is worth. costs; overprint on railway stamps of Nicaragua to change them to postal use, 1911.
Valencia: 1: city in Spain, Spanish Civil War local post, Republican forces, 1937. 2: inscribed “Plan Sur de Valencia” Spanish obligatory tax stamps forrebuilding, 1963. 3: province in Spain, “Carlist” stamps issued in Sept. 1874.
Valenciennes: French local post, German occupation, 1914.
Valentine Mark & Moody: United Kingdom postal strike: local post 1971.
Valentine Stourbridge: United Kingdom postal strike: local post 1971.
Valenzuela: city in Spain, Spanish Civil War local post, Republican forces, 1937.
Vale of Rheidol: United Kingdom postal strike: local post 1971.
Vales de Respuesta: (Sp.) international reply-paid coupons.
Vale Un Centavo R.de C.: overprint , postal tax stamps of Nicaragua.
Valeur: (Fr.) value, denomination.
Valeur declare(e): (Fr.) value declared, insured red color parcel label, UPU introduced them.
Valeur d’Exchange: (Fr.) postal currency used as a revenue inscription.
Valeur exprimée: (sans) (Fr.) no value mentioned.
Valeur faciale: (Fr.) face value.
Valevolo / per le Stampe: overprint on parcel post or newspaper stamps of Italy, but also used for ordinary postage, 1890.
Val Gesso: Co. Nazional di Liberazione; (It.) liberation local post, Italy, 1944.
Välgörenhet: (Swed.) charity.
Välgörenhetfrimärke: (Swed.) charity stamp.
Validité: (Fr.) period in which a stamps is valid for postal use.
Valido: (Sp.) valid.
Valija: (Sp.) postman’s mail bag.
Válka: (Czech.) war.
Valki: city in Russia, Zemstvo local post; 1893-1914, see Zemstvo.
Valladolid: 1: provisional government local post, stamps of Spain handstamped “Habilitado / por la / Nacion; 1868-70, Spain Scott 116c-128c. 2: province in Spain, Spanish Civil War local post, Republican forces, 1936.
Vall de Abdalajis: city in Spain, Spanish Civil War local post, Nationalist forces, 1937.
Vall de Uxo: city in Spain, Spanish Civil War local post, Republican forces, 1937.
Valle Bormida: Italian local post, Allied occupation, 1944.
Vallees d’Andorre: (Fr.) Andorra, 1932-43.
Vallées d’Andorre: (Fr.) Andorra.
Valley: see Peak.
Vallfogona de Riucorp: city in Spain, Spanish Civil War local post, Republican forces, 1937.
Valls: city in Spain, Spanish Civil War local post, Republican forces, 1937.
Valona: city in Albania; “Albania” overprint on stamps of Italy, 1909-16, see Italian Offices in Turkish Empire.
Valor: (It.) denomination, value.
Valor declarado: (Sp.) insured parcel post label.
Valore Globale: overprint on stamps of Fiume, making stamp valid for regular use, 1919-20.
Valore nominale: (It.) nominal, face value.
Valores declarados: (Sp.) postal insurance service where the insured value is declared by the sender.
Valor Estimación: (Sp.) the valuation of a lot based on the auctioneer’s or consignor’s experiences, and not taken form any catalog or other pricing reference; may also indicate a suggested bid.
Valor nominal: (Sp.) face value.
Valparaiso Multada: (Sp.) Chile postage due.
Valsch: form of term “Falsch” or false or fake, that can be found on back of fake stamps.
Valsetryk: (Dan.) see Tryk – Valse .
Valsetrykk: (Nor.) see Trykk – Valse.
Valuazione: (It.) the valuation of a lot based on the auctioneer’s or consignor’s experiences, and not taken form any catalog or other pricing reference; may also indicate a suggested bid.
Value: 1: the part of the inscription or surcharge that has the monetary charge for the stamp. 2: market value to a collector
Value added refund: the postage returned by the USPS to an authorized mailer who prepares First Class Mail or bulk rate mail for customers and adds value to the mail by sorting it to a finer level.
Value converted: Mexican paper money depreciated in value, 1916-18, stamps were overprinted raising the face value to correspond with the new paper money.
Value Decrease of a Stamp: due to these factors: no original gum, regumming, hinge remnant, straight edges, markings or notes applied by collectors or dealers.
Value erased: denomination erased from a printing plate so new values couldbe inserted in different colors, Corrientes 1860-80.
Value Field: the numbers and/or symbols in a meter impression that show the postage amount.
Value Increase of a Stamp: due to these factors: very wide margins, extremely fresh color, selvage presence, plate or die varieties, and scarcity.
Value inserted: stamps printed with space for denomination to be inserted with a handstamp or by manuscript prior to issue.
Value Only: British postal agency value surcharge for Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Muscat, Qatar; Persian Gulf states, instead of expense of overprinting individual states.
Valuer faciale: (Fr.) face value.
Value tablet: the portion of the design containing the denomination.
Valverde del Camino: city in Spain, Spanish Civil War local post, Nationalist forces, 1937-38.
VAMP: Vending and Affixing Machine Perforations.
Van Ackers: nickname for 1946 Belgian stamps sold at a discount from face value by order of postmaster, Van Ackers.
Vancouver Canphil: local, Canada Philatelic?, Canada postal strike, 1978-81.
Vancouver Island: west coast of Canada, province of Canada as part of British Columbia; currency: 12 pence = 1 shilling, 20 shillings = 1 pound, 100 cents = 1 dollar (1865) 1849: made a British crown colony, 1860: British colony, stamp inscribed British Columbia and Vancouvers Island, then name shortened to Vancouver Island, 1860: No. 1, 2 ½ pence dull rose, first stamp as British Columbia, 1865, Sept. 19: first separate stamps, 1866, Nov. 19: united with British Columbia as British Columbia, stamps of Vancouver and British Columbia used in both areas, 1871: became a province of the Canadian Dominion; see Canada.
V & Crown: watermark seen on Victoria two pence.
Van Demons Land: bogus issue; parody of Van Dieman’s Land stamps.
Van Diemen’s Land: : original name: Tasmania, currency: 12 pence = 1 shilling, 20 shillings = 1 pound 1853, Nov.1: No. 1, 1 pence blue, 1858: Tasmania used on stamps, 1901: joined Commonwealth of Australia, see Tasmania.
Vandret fold: (Dan.) horizontal crease.
Van Duzer, S. R.: inscription on Medicine stamp; see Private die proprietary stamps.
Vannmerke: (Nor.) watermark.
Vannmerkestilling: (Nor.) watermark position.
Vannrett: (Nor.) horizontal (position).
Vannrett par: (Nor.) horizontal pair.
Van Renthuysen’s News Office: unofficial forwarder of mail, 1845, Lansingburgh, N. Y.
Van Riper’s Express: local parcel delivery firm operated in Nothern New Jersey and New York City, used a label.
Vänster hörn: (Swed.) left corner.
Vanuatu: group of islands in the south Pacific Ocean, formerly New Hebrides; currency: 100 centimes = 1 franc, vatu (1980), 64 vatus = 1 US dollar 1906: administered by France and Great Britain as a “condominium,” stamps of New Caledonia and New South Wales used, 1908: had separate but equal stamp issues, French used an overprint on stamps of New Caledonia, Britain used an overprint on stamps of Fiji, 1980, July 30: No.1, 5 vatu franc multicolor, first stamp as independent nation, 1982, July 16: joined the UPU, 1987, May 12: first semi-postal stamp for “Hurricane Relief Fund.”
Vapen: (Swed.) coat-of-arms.
Våpen: (Nor.) coat-of-arms.
Vapen lejon: (Swed.) lion coat-of-arms.
Våpenutgaven 1863: (Nor.) refers to the 1863 Coat-of-Arms definitive issues.
Våpenutgaven 1867: (Nor.) refers to the 1867-1868 Coat-of-Arms definitive issues.
Vapor: 1. (Sp.) steamship, as por vapor, by boat or sea mail. 2. (Rom.) ship, steamship, steamer.
Var(s).: auction abbreviation term for variety.
Värde: (Swed.) value.
Vardø ByPost: Norway local post, 1893-95.
Va Real: (Port.) Vila Real (Royal Villa) pre-adhesive postmark of Portugal.
Variable denomination coil (VDC): denomination of the stamp printed by a vending machine at the time of sale; also known as Variable Rate Coil.
Variant: (Dan., Swed) variety.
Variante de coloare: (Rom.) color variety.
Variante de hîrtie: (Rom.) paper variety.
Variation: A different version or format in which the stamp was issued (usually compared with the original single gummed sheet stamp). Variations are produced on purpose.
Variedad: (Sp.) variety.
Variedad de composicion: (Sp.) variety in the setting of the printer’s type, the make-up of the stamp design or in the positioning of a cliché on the printing plate.
Variedad de dentado: (Sp.) perforation variety.
Variedad de impresion: (Sp.) variety due to faulty printing.
Variedad en capicua: (Sp.) tête-bêche variety.
Variedad por empalme: (Sp.) variety caused by the stamp being printed over a paper joint.
Varied perfs: horizontal perforations of Australia coil stamps with larger holes in center than at ends for easier separation.
Varietà: (It.) variety.
Varietate: (Rom.) variety.
Variété: (Fr.) variety.
Varietati de dantelura: (Rom.) perforation varieties.
Variétiste: (Fr.) one who collects varieties.
Variety: 1: A stamp containing an error, flaw or mistake.  This can be due to a retouch, misprint, reprint, ink fault, process error, etc.  These are unintentional; 2: bart (Ger.), variété (Fr.), varietá (It.), variedad (Sp.).
Varig Condor Eta: air mail stamps of Brazil authorized for use by private airline firms to prepay extra postage in addition to ordinary stamp issues.
Varldspost Kongress: (Swed.) VIII Universal Postal Union Congress, July 4, 1924.
Världspostkongressen: (Swed.) World Postal Congress.
Varna: French post office in Ottoman Empire opened Nov. 1857, closed Aug. 1876.
Varnish lines: bars of diagonal lines of varnish applied on the face of Austrian stamps to hinder cleaning and reuse,1901-07.
Vasa Issue: city in Finland, set of Finnish stamps printed there in 1918.
Vasárnap: (Hung.) Sunday.
Vasco da Gama: eight stamps issued in 1898, for Portugal and Colonies.
Vascongadas: Basque provinces of Alava, Guipuzcoa and Vizcaya.
Vasil: city in Russia, Zemstvo local post; 1871-81, see Zemstvo.
Väster: (Swed.) West.
Västligaustralien: (Swed.) Western Australia.
Västligukraina: (Swed.) Western Ukraine.
Västligukrainsk: (Swed.) Western Ukrainian.
VAT: Value Added Tax; tax payable on hammer price and the Buyer’s Premium for auction lots bought from auctioneers living within the countries being members of the European Union (EU); VAT is not payable for lots delivered to addresses outside the EU community.
Vathy (Samos): overprint on stamps of France, offices in Vathy, Turkish Empire, 1893-1914.
Vaticana: Vatican City.
Vatican City: western Italy, located with the city of Rome on bank of the Tiber River; currency: 100 centesimi = 1 lira, 100 cents = 1 Euro (2002) 1870-1929: used stamps of Italy, 1929, June 1: created by Lateran Treaty with Italy, 1929, Aug.1: No.1, 5 centesimi dark brown and pink, first special delivery stamps; joined UPU, 1931: first postage due stamp, first parcel post stamp, 1933: first semipostal stamp, Holy Year issue, 1938, June 22: first air mail stamp.
Vaticane: Vatican City
Vaticano, Cittá del: (It.) Vatican City.
Vatikanet: (Dan.) Vatican City.
Vatikanstaat: (Ger.) Vatican City.
Vatikanstaten: (Swed.) the Vatican.
Vattenmärke(n): (Swed.) watermark(s).
Vattenmärke, Ark: (Swed.) sheet watermark.
Vattenmärke, Kontinuerligt: (Swed.) continuous watermark.
Vattenmärke, Krona: (Swed.) crown watermark.
Vattenmärke, Marginal: (Swed.) marginal watermark.
Vattenmärke, Positions: (Swed.) position watermark.
Vatu: currency unit in Vanuatu.
Vaxa: (Sp.) lower, usually found on pre-stamp covers.
VC: 1: auction abbreviation for viewcard with stamp affixed to picture side. 2: country coed for Saint Vincent and the Grenadines as used by the UPU. 3: Victor Castaigne, postmaster of Meshad province, Persia 1902.
VDK: (Ger.) “Verband der Kriegsgeschadigten,”inscription for Association of Disabled War Victims.
V.D.L.: Van Dieman’s Land (Aust.) former name of Tasmania.
V.D.M.P. Toulon: Voie de mer par Toulon (Fr.) sea route via Toulon, 1797.
Veck: (Swed.) crease.
Vectis Postal Service: United Kingdom postal strike: local post 1971.
Veddenese Sultanate: supposed Arabian country.
Vedette: (Fr.) rarity.
Veglia: now Krk, island in Adriatic Sea off coast of Yugoslavia; 1918-pre: Austrian territory, 1918: overprint on stamps of Fiume, Italian occupation; see Fiume, 1920: became part of Yugoslavia, name changed to Krk.
Veile: (or Vejle) seaport and capital of Vejle county in SE Jutland, Denmark, at the head of the Vejle Fjord ca. 135 miles W of Copenhagen. Local post established 5 November 1887, with first “Veile Bypost / Pakke-Expedition” lithographed stamps issued on the same day, and with several others issued through 1912.
Veile bypost: city in Denmark, local post.
Veile-Vandel Jernbane: local, Denmark railway parcel, 1887-89.
Velez-Blanco: city in Spain, Spanish Civil War local post, Republican forces, 1937.
Velez-Malaga: city in Spain, Spanish Civil War local post, Nationalist forces, 1937.
Velgørenhed: (Dan.) charity.
Velgørenhedmærke: (Dan.) charity stamps.
Veliki Ustyug: city in Russia, Zemstvo local post; 1901-08, see Zemstvo.
Vélin: (Fr.) wove paper.
Velinpapier: (Ger.) wove paper.
Velká Británie: (Czech.) Great Britain.
Velsk: city in Russia, Zemstvo local post; 1886-1915, see Zemstvo.
VEN: international postal code for Venezuela.
Venda: South Africa Homeland State; currency: as South Africa 1969: Venda Territory Authority established, 1979, Sept. 13: No.1, 4¢ multicolor, first stamp as independent, 1994, April 27: ceased to exist, postal service operated until 1996; see South Africa.
Ven da Mar: (It.) arrival by sea handstamp applied to incoming ship mail, Venice,1716.
Venden: Wenden.
Vending and Affixing Machines: perforations applied privately to imperforate stamps by machine manufactured by The Attleboro Stamp Company, The Brinkerhoff Company, The Farwell Company, International Vending Machine Company, The Mailometer Co., The Shermack Co. and the U.S. Automatic Vending Co.
Vending Booklet: booklet of stamps prepared to be sold by a vending machine.
Vending machine franking label: in the late 1970s, vending machines offered gummed labels imprinted with amount of postage paid.
Vending machine stamps: stamps designed or printed specifically for use in coin-operated stamp machines.
Vendre: (Fr.) to sell.
Venetia Giulia: Italian, 1918-19, see Austria N1-N32
Venetia Giulia and Istria: Allied occupation, “AMG VG” 1945-47, Italy, 1LN…
Veneza: Venezuela, 1865-76.
Venezia: (It.) Venice, Italy
Venezia Giulia: Julian Venetia, Italian name for Slovene Coast, Trieste, Istria and Dalmatia, 1918 – 19.
Venezia Giulia: north east Italy, Julian Venetia; Currency: 100 centesimi = 1 corona (post 1925) Fiume and part of Dalmatia 1858-59: overprint on stamps of Austria for newspapers, 1918 – 45: Kingdom of Italy, includes Trieste, Istria, Slovene Coast (Istra Slovensko Primorje), 1918: “Regno d’Italia / Venezia Giulia / 3. X1.18′” overprint on stamps of Austria during occupation, overprint of stamps of Italy, Italian occupation of Trieste, 1919: “Venezia Giulia” overprint on stamps of Italy for postage, special delivery, postage due, 1919 – 43: acquired from Austria, stamps of Italy used, 1943 – 45: stamps of (Kingdom of) Italy and RSI used, 1945-47: stamps of Italy overprinted “A.M.G.-V.G.” (Allied Military Government-Venezia Giulia), Zone A, 1945 – 47: stamps of Yugoslavia inscribed “Istria Lit(t)orale Sloveno – Istra Slovensko Primorje,” Istria Slovene Coast, used for Zone B, 1946: overprinted “A.M.G.-V.G.” for air mail, special delivery, 1947: FTT, Free Territory of Trieste created, A under AMG, B under VUJA; balance of area going to Yugoslavia, 1948: first postage due stamp, see Trieste.
Venezia, Poste di: labels issued at fair for use at Venice Pavillion.
Venezia Tridentia: (Trentino) “Regno d’Italia / Venezia Tridentina / 3.XI.18″overprint on stamps of Austria, for Italian Occupation of Austria, 1918.
Venezolana: Venezuela currency unit, 1863-65.
Venezuela: northern coast of South America, on the Caribbean Sea; official name of postal administration: lpostel currency: 100 centavos = 8 reales = 1 peso (1859), 100 centimos = 1 venezolana (1879), 100 centimos = 1 bolivar (1880) 1859, Jan. 1: No.1, ½ real yellow, 1879-80: revenue stamps inscribed “Escuelas” and “Instruccion” also valid for postage, 1880, Jan. 1: joined the UPU, 1898, May 1: first official stamp, 1899, May: first registration stamp, 1902: provisional issues for Port of Carupano due to blockade by Great Britain, Germany and Italy, 1903: local stamps for state of Guayana, 1930: first air mail stamp, 1937: first semi-postal stamp, overprinted “EE.UU. de Venezuela Correos,” 1942, Dec. 17: first air mail semi-postal stamp, 1949, Mar. 9: first special delivery stamp.
Venizelist Goverment: 1917, Feb. 5: stamps of Greece issued by the Venizelist Provisional Government.Mar. 9: first special elivery stamps,
Venstre: (Dan., Nor.) left (side).
Venta: (Sp.) sale.
Venta del Moro: city in Spain, Spanish civil war local post, Republican forces, 1937.
Ventas por mayor: (Sp.) wholesale sale.
Ventas por menor: (Sp.) retail sale.
Vente à prix nets: (Fr.) French mail sale with fixed prices.
Venus, S.S.: steamship marking of the Danube Steam Navigation Company built around 1850s, for upper or middle Danube lines.
Vera: city in Spain, Spanish Civil War local post, Republican forces, 1937.
Vera Cruz, Mexico: handstamp and machine cancels used when US forces conquered the city and established a post office on April 21, 1914 until Nov. 23, 1914.
Veraderos: (Sp.) private mail carriers of the 17th-19th centuries.
Veranstalter: (Ger.) organizers (of a stamp show).
Verband Berliner Philatelisten-Vereine: (Ger.) Association of Berlin Philatelic Organizations.
Verbandsprüfer: (Ger.) formerly known as Bundesprüfer, one who examines philatelic objects for certification.
Veräussern: (Ger.) to sell.
Verde: (It., Sp., Rom.) green.
Verde-albastrui: (Rom.) bluish-green (color).
Verde aprins: (Rom.) bright green (color).
Verde-bronz: (Rom.) bronze-green (color).
Verde de mar: (Rom.) sea-green (color).
Verde-galbui: (Rom.) yellowish-green (color).
Verde-gri: (Rom.) grey-green, Russian green (color).
Verde-iarba: (Rom.) grass-green (color).
Verdensomfattende: (Nor.) worldwide.
Verde-oliv: (Rom.) oliv-green (color).
Verdipost: (Nor.) insured mail.
Verde-smarald: (Rom.) emerald-green (color).
Vereenigde Oost-Indische Compagnie: (Dut.) United East Indies Company.
Verein: (Ger.) association.
Vereinigte Arabische Emirate: (Ger.) United Arab Emirates.
Vereinigte Königreich: (Ger.) United Kingdom, Great Britain.
Vereinigte Staaten von Amerika: (Ger.) United States of America.
Vereinte Nationen: (Ger.) United Nations.
Verfalschung: (Ger.) fake.
Vergata (carta): (It.) laid paper.
Vergé bâtonné: (Fr.) laid batonne paper.
Vergel: city in Spain, Spanish Civil War local post, Republican forces, 1937.
Vergiss Nicht unsere Kolonien: (Ger.) “Never Forget our Colonies” label.
Vergriffen: (Ger.) out of print, sold out.
Verificato per Censura: (It.) censor marking from Italian language countries.
Véritable: (Fr.) genuine.
Verkauf: (Ger.) sale.
Verkehrs-Anstalt Merkur: local, Duren, Germany, 1895-97.
Verkehrt: (Ger.) inverted
Verkhnednieprovsk: city in Russia, Zemstvo local post; 1866-77, see Zemstvo.
Verkhotur: city in Russia, Zemstvo local post; 1889-1902, see Zemstvo.
Vermeil: gold-plated silver, an exhibit medal level between gold and silver.
Vermont: 1: became a U.S. state March 4, 1791. 2: first federal issue revenue of US, July 1, 1798-Feb. 28, 1801.
Verona: fantasy from Shakespeare’s island.
Verpätungsmarke: (Ger.) late fee, postal marking or stamp indicating payment of a special fee for forwarding a mail piece after the regular mail has been closed; also known as supplementary mail.
Verrechungsmarke für Zeitungsporto: (Ger.) newspaper stamp.
Verschlussmarke: (Ger.) vignette.
Verschossen: (Ger.) faded (color).
Verso: (Fr.) back, as opposed to front of a philatelic object
Verso (tamponné au): (Fr.) backstamped.
Verspätungsmarke: (Ger.) too late stamp.see Trieste,
Versteigerung: (Ger.) auction.
Vert: (Fr.) 1: green. 2: auction abbreviation for vertical.
Verticala: (Rom.) vertical.
Verticalmente: (Sp.) vertically.
Vertical pair, imperforate horizontally: a pair of stamps that is fully perforated horizontally, but has no vertical perforations.
Vertical pair, imperforate inbetween: a pair of stamps that is fully perforated at the top, sides and bottom, but has no perforations between the stamps.
Vertragsstaaten (Indien) Besetzung (Japan): (Ger.) Japanese occupation of the Indian States.
Vervalsing: (Dut.) forgery.
Vervelle: a distinctive shade of France ungummed 1 franc stamp of 1851.
Verviers: (Fr.) local tax stamp in Belgium.
Very fine: Value Increase of a Stamp: due to these factors: very wide margins, extremely fresh color, selvage presence, plate or die varieties, and scarcity.
Very lightly hinged (VLH).
Verzelchnis: (Ger.) checklist.
Verzui: (Rom.) greenish (color).
Vessiegonsk: city in Russia, Zemstvo local post; 1871-1913, see Zemstvo.
Vest: (Dan., Nor.) west.
Vestafrika: (Dan., Nor.) West Africa.
Vesta, S.S.: steamship marking of the Danube Steam Navigation Company built around 1850s, for middle or upper Danube lines.
Vestaustralia: (Nor.) Western Australia.
Vestaustralien: (Dan.) Western Australia.
Vesteraalen Dampskibsselskap: issued own stamps for route between Advent Bay, Spitsbergen and Norway, 1896, valid for postage within Norway.
Vester-Norre-Osterbroes Pakvogn: local, Copenhagen, Denmark, 1880-85.
Vest Pocket Dealer (VPD): a dealer who brings his stamp stock to stamp shows and goes from dealer to dealer offering his material, as opposed to those dealers who have sales booths.
Vestukraine: (Dan.) Western Ukraine.
Vestungarn: (Dan., Nor.) Western Hungary.
Vetekeverria: Albania.
Vetluga: city in Russia, Zemstvo local post; 1905-13, see Zemstvo.
Vettore: (It.) “Carrier” inscription on Italian tax revenue stamps.
V.E.U.: voie des Etats Unis (Fr.) via U.S.A.
VIII Varlospost Kongress Stockholm: Sweden.
VF: see Very fine.
VFU: very fine used
VG: 1: Venezia Giulia. 2: Victoria Government
V.H.M.: (Victor H. Mackenzie) manuscript surcharge on British East Africa Protectorate issues, 1891-95.
V I: 1: USPS abbreviation for Virgin Islands. 2: British abbreviation for Vancouver Island.
Via Aerea: (It.) by air.
Viandes: (Fr.) meat revenue stamp inscription
Via Nicaragua: see Accessory Transit Co. of Nicaragua.
Viatka: city in Russia, Zemstvo local post; 1896-1905, see Zemstvo.
Viborg: City and capital of Viborg county, N central Jutland, Denmark, ca.130 miles NW of Copengahen. Local post established 6 September 1886, with first “Viborg Bypost” lithographed local stamps issued on the same day, and with numerous others issued through 1888. The local post ceased operations on 6 June 1891.
Viborg Bypost: city in Denmark, local post, 1886-91.
Vic: 1.(It.) Vicenza (Italy) pre-adhesive postmark. 2: city in Spain, Spanish Civil War local post, Republican forces, 1937.
Vicebarevná: (Czech.) multicolored.
Vícenásobná Frankatura: (Czech.) multiple franking.
Vichy issues: nickname for stamps issued by France and colonies during World War II.
Vict de Tampas: overprint on stamps of Mexico for this district, 1856-1883.
Vickers’ Express: parcel delivery firm that serviced the Northern Railway and the Toronto Grey and Bruce Railway, used labels, 1888.
Victims of Philatelic Investment Fraud: see AVE.
Victoria: southeastern part of Australia; currency: 12 pence = 1 shilling, 20 shillings = 1 pound 1849-51: used butterfly design as cancel, 1850, Jan. 3: No.1, one pence dull red, first issue designed and printed locally, 1850-1912; stamps issued, 1851: received colony status, 1851-56: used oval with bars as cancel, 1854, Dec.1: first registration stamp, 1855, Jan. 1: first late fee stamp, 1870: “Stamp Statute” inscription for postal / fiscal use, 1879: stamps, inscribed “Stamp Duty” valid for postal use, 1890: first postage due stamp, 1891: joined the UPU, 1897, Oct.: first semi-postal stamp, 1901, Jan. 1: one of six British colonies to form the Commonwealth of Australia, 1913: used stamps of Australia; see Australia.
Victoria: Postmasters stamp issued during the Civil War.
Victoria: 1: inscription on stamps of Cuba, postage due, post WW II. 2: overprint on stamps of Mexico for this district, 1856-1883.
Victoria 1837-1897: cancel to celebrate Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.
Victoria and V: Cuba, postal tax stamps.
Victoria de Torreon Abril 2 1914: overprint on stamps of Mexico for Victory of Torreon, 1914.
Victoria Land: “Victoria / Land” overprint on stamps of New Zealand for use by Captain Scott’s South Pole expedition, 1911-13.
Victorian Railway: local post, Australia, 1835-1930s.
Victoria Regina (VR): British inscription VR used on the Penny Black, 1840, for official use, printed April 1840, but never put into use.
Victoria, Texas Postage 5, 10: see Confederate Postmasters’ Provisionals.
Victory: World War II; common design on stamps of the French Community of Nations, 1946.
Victory Issue 8th June 1946: overprint on stamps of Aden for Allied nations’ victory.
Vic Walter’s P.S.: United Kingdom postal strike: local post 1971.
Vidimationer: (Swed.) certified copies of (a package’s) content.
Vielfalt: (Ger.) numerous.
Vienna: 1: German stamps overprinted diagonally in1945 “Österrich” for use in Vienna. 2: United Nations post office, 1979.
Vierblatter Klee 1916: (Ger.) “Four-leafed clover; label depicting four leaders that killed the entante.
Viereck: (Ger.) square.
Viererblock: (Ger.) an unseparated group of four stamps.
Vierkantaussschnitt: (Ger.) cut square.
Viet Nam: eastern Indo-China; currency: 100 cents (xu) = 1 piastre (dong) (1945), 100 xu = 10 hao = 1 dong (1945), Viet Ming = 30 xu = 10 hao = 1 dong included former French territories of Tonkin, Annam and Cochin China, 1889: stamps of French Colonies surcharged “Indo-Chine 89″ (1889), 1945, Aug 19: declared independence from France; Viet Minh took control of Hanoi and Saigon, 1949: Indo-China divided into Cambodia, Laos and Viet Nam, each issuing its own stamps, 1951, June 6: No.1, 10 cents olive green, 1951, Oct. 20: joined the UPU, 1954, July 21: French forces withdrew from northern part of country, partitioned at the 17th parallel, 1954, Dec.1: stamps of India overprinted in Hindi characters for use in Viet Nam, communist Viet Minh in control of country, 1955: Viet Nam became Republic of North Viet Nam, 1965: ICC (International Control Commission) overprint on stamps of India for Viet Nam; see Annam and Tonkin, Indo-China, French, Viet Nam, North, and Viet Nam, South.
Viet Nam, Buu Chinnh, Conghoa: Viet Nam, South Viet Nam.
Viet-Nam Cong-Hoa: South Vietnam, 1956-75.
Viet Nam Dan Chu Cong Hoa: North Viet Nam
Viet Nam, North: Viet Nam north of the 17th parallel; Socialist Republic of Viet Nam; currency: 100 cents = 1 dong (1946), 100 xu = 1 dong (1959) 1945, Sep. 2: No.1, 1 piastre yellow green, first stamps as the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, overprinted “Viet-Nam Dan-Chu Cong-Hoa” on stamps of French Indo-China, 1946: No.1, 1 hao green, first stamps as Viet Nam, 1955: first postage due stamp, 1958, May 1: first military stamp, 1959, Nov. 20: first air mail stamp, 1976, July 2: official reunification of country under Communist control, 1976, July 23: first stamps as Socialist Republic of Viet nam, 1983, Nov. 1: first semi-postal stamp.
Viet Nam, South: Viet Nam south of the 17th parallel, Republic of South Viet Nam; currency: 100 cents = 1 piastre (1959) 1952, Nov. 10: first semi-postal, air mail stamps, 1952, June 16: first postage due stamp, 1955, July 20: No. 1, 30 cents claret, first stamps as South Viet Nam, 1955, Oct.: republic of South Viet Nam officially established, 1956, Jan. 10: stamps inscribed Viet Nam Cong Hoa, (Republic of Viet Nam), 1961, June: first military stamp.
View Card: a postcard that depicts cities, landscapes or landmarks.
Viewing: ability to see auction lots prior to date or time of sale
VIF: (Fr.) lively, bright (color).
Vifieta: (Sp.) vignette.
Vig, Vign: auction abbreviation for vignette.
Vignetta: (It.) vignette.
Vignette: (Fr.) 1: term for the picture or other main design area of a stamp. 2: the blue air mail labels.
Vignetten: (Ger.) vignettes.
Vignette pour l’expérimentation des machines distributrices de timbres: (Fr.) testing label for automatic vending machines.
Vignette stamps: (Fr.) a non-denominated stamp created to advertise or commemorate a product or event. see Poster stamps.
VII Congresso UPU: 7th UPU Congress, Spain.
VIII Varldspost: Congress, Stockholm, Sweden 1924.
Vikingland: bogus issue.
Viladrau: city in Spain, Spanish Civil War local post, Republican forces, 1937.
Vilafranca del Cid: city in Spain, Spanish Civil War local post, Republican forces, 1937.
Világos: (Hung.) pale, light (color).
Világoskék: (Hung.) pale blue, light blue, cambridge blue (color).
Világospiros: (Hung.) pale red, light red (color).
Vilassar de Mar: city in Spain, Spanish Civil War local post, Republican forces, 1937.
Vilatorta: city in Spain, Spanish Civil War local post, Republican forces, 1937.
Vilavert: city in Spain, Spanish Civil War local post, Republican forces, 1937.
Villacarlos: city in Spain, Spanish Civil War local post, Republican forces, 1937.
Villacarrillo: city in Spain, Spanish Civil War local post, Republican forces, 1937.
Villada: (Sp.) mark applied to a private telegraph stamp issued by Villada’s town council, 1901.
Villa del Rio: city in Spain, Spanish Civil War local post, Republican forces, 1937.
Villafranca del Penedes: city in Spain, Spanish Civil War local post, Republican forces, 1937.
Villagarcia de Arosa: city in Spain, Spanish Civil War local post, Nationalist forces, 1937.
Villajoyosa: city in Spain, Spanish Civil War local post, Republican forces, 1937.
Villanueva: city in Spain, Spanish Civil War local post, Republican forces, 1937.
Villaneuva de Algaida: city in Spain, Spanish Civil War local post, Nationalist forces, 1937-38.
Villanueva de Cordoba: city in Spain, Spanish Civil War local post, Republican forces, 1937.
Villanueva de la Serena: city in Spain, Spanish Civil War local post, Republican forces, 1937.
Villanueva del Rosario: city in Spain, Spanish Civil War local post, Nationalist forces, 1937-38.
Villanueva del Trabuco: city in Spain, Spanish Civil War local post, Nationalist forces, 1937-38.
Villanueva de Tapia: city in Spain, Spanish Civil War local post, Nationalist forces, 1938.
Villar de la Libertad: city in Spain, Spanish Civil War local post, Republican forces, 1937.
Villarreal: city in Spain, Spanish Civil War local post, Republican forces, 1937.
Villarrobledo: city in Spain, Spanish Civil War local post, Republican forces, 1937.
Villayer, Renuard de: organized a “Petite Post” in Paris, 1653, with a special prepayment wrapper “billet” dropped into eleven mail boxes placed at various locations in Paris with three daily collections and deliveries.
Ville: (Fr.) city.
Villena: city in Spain, Spanish Civil War local post, Republican forces, 1937.
Vilnius: Lithuania overprint on 1929 stamps of Russia for German occupation, 1941.
Vimbodi: city in Spain, Spanish Civil War local post, Republican forces, 1937.
Vinaccia: (It.) claret (color).
Vinaroz: city in Spain, Spanish Civil War local post, Republican forces, 1937.
Vincado: (Port.) creased.
Vinebre: city in Spain, Spanish Civil War local post, Republican forces, 1937.
Vineri: (Rom.) Friday.
Viñeta: (Sp.) vignette.
Viñeta bisect: (Sp.) half of German 5 pf stamp (hand stamped “3 PF”) officially used in April 1901 on the cruiser Vineta as a provisional to mail newspapers.
Viñetofilia: (Sp.) collecting charity stamps, labels or stickers.
Vin Fiz: (Scott CL2) A 25¢ U.S. stamp lithographed in black taken from the name of a grape soda whose sponsor promoted a coast-to-coast flight in 1911. The bottom wings of the biplane were inscribed “Vin Fiz.”
Vinnitse: city in the Ukraine, local provisionals, aka Vinnitcha, 1990s.
Vinrød: (Nor.) wine-red, claret (color).
Vins: (Fr.) wines revenue stamp inscription.
Vintage: a figure featuring the year of issue or print, some may be on the sheet margin.
Vinuela: city in Spain, Spanish Civil War local post, Nationalist forces, 1937.
Viola: (It.) purple (color).
Violaceo: (It.) violet.
Violet: (Dan.) violet (color).
Violet-albastrui: (Rom.) bluish-violet (color).
Violet aprins: (Rom.) bright violet, fire-violet (color).
Violetblå: (Dan.) violet-blue (color).
Violetbrun: (Dan., Rom.) violet-brun (color).
Violetgrå: (Dan.) violet-grey (color).
Violet-negricios: (Rom.) blackish-violet (color).
Violet-roscat: (Rom.) reddish-violet (color).
Violet-roz: (Rom.) rose-violet, claret (color).
Violett: (Swed.) violet (color).
Violettakt: (Swed.) violet-tinged (color).
Violettakt karmin: (Swed.) violet-tinged carmine (color).
Violettakt mörk karmin: (Swed.) violet-tinged dark carmine (color).
Violettakt rosa: (Swed.) violet-tinged rose (color).
Violettblå: (Swed.) violet-blue (color).
Violetbrun: (Swed.) violet-brown (color).
Violettgrå: (Swed.) violet-grey (color).
Violettrosa: (Swed.) violet-rose (color).
VIP: very important person.
Virgil & Co’s Express: local parcel firm that serviced Vermont, used a label, 1844
Virginia: 1: became a U.S. state June 25, 1788. 2: first federal issue revenue of US, July 1, 1798-Feb. 28, 1801. 3: second federal revenue issue, May 1, 1813-Feb. 27, 1816. 4: supervisors’ seal revenue, March 2, 1799.
Virginia City Pony Express: private mail firm that operated between Virginia City, Nevada and Sacramento, Calif. By Wells Fargo & Co., used stamps, 1862-64.
Virgin Islands: 1: see British Virgin Islands. 2: Sombrero Lighthouse (upside down) inscription, unissued Great Britain cinderella by David Horry, 2001.
Virgin Islands: West Indies, southeast of Puerto Rico, formerly Danish West Indies; currency: 12 pence = 1 shilling, 20 shillings = 1 pound, 100 cents = 1 dollar (1951), 100 cents = 1 US dollar (1962) 1866: No.1, 1 penny green, 1916: war tax stamp issued, 1917, Jan. 17: sold to the US by Denmark, 1917, Mar. 31: formal transfer to the US, see British Virgin Islands, Danish West Indies.
Virtual Philately: genuine postage stamps, which are scanned and transferred between collectors electronically.
Virumaa: region in Estonia, bogus issues.
Visado por la Censura Militar: (Sp.) examined by the military censor.
Viscaya: now Bixcaia, one of the Basque Provinces.
Visiniu-putred: (Rom.) lilac-red (color), see Rosu-lila.
Vistoso: (Sp.) fine appearance.
Vitoria: city in Spain, Spanish Civil War local post, Republican forces, 1937.
Viva España: surcharge by Nationalist forces in Cadiz, Spain, as a semipostal, 1936-37.
Viva España / 18 Julio / 1936: overprint on stamps of Spain, by Nationalist forces, for revenue issue of Tenerife; Canary Islands.
Viva España Correo Aereo: overprint on stamps of Spain by the Nationalist forces, 1936-37 for use in Burgeos, Spain.
Viva España Sevilla Julio 1936: overprint on stamps of Spain by revolutionary forces, 1936.
Vivero: city in Spain, Spanish Civil War local post, Nationalist forces, 1937.
Vivo: (Sp., It.) bright color.
Vizcayan Republic: U.S. seceding state in the Philippines, Spain, 1898.
Vízjel(ek): (Hung.) watermark(s).
Vjetori i Mbretnis: Albania.
V-Label: labels used on insured mail, with letter V (French valeur = value) usually on red tinted paper.
Vláda: (Czech.) government, administration.
Vladivostok: city in Russia, 1: 1922 overprint “1917 / 7-XI /1922” for use in Far Eastern Republic. 2: 1923 overprint in Cyrillic on Russian stamps for use in Far Eastern Republic. 3: local overprint, 1994.
Vlak: (Czech.) railroad train.
Vlastos, VL, Vl: specialized catalogue of Greece.
V L H: see very lightly hinged.
Vlore: (It.) city in Abania, in Italian called Valona.
V-Mail: special forms and envelopes used by US military forces during WW II to reduce the weight of mail; started June 15, 1942; called Airgraphs by British..
V.N.: Vaccination, South Australia official overprint, 1868-74.
Voamena: Madagascar local issue.
VÖB Verband Österreichischer Briefmarkenprüfer: (Ger.) stamp expert of Austria.
Vodorovne Rastrovany Lep: (Czech.) horizontal gum ripple. Vögel: (Ger.) birds (thematic).
Vogeler, A. & Co.: inscription on Medicine stamp; see Private die proprietary stamps.
Vogeler, Meyer & Co.: inscription on Medicine stamp; see Private die proprietary stamps.
Vogn: (Dan.) railroad car, railway car.
Voice of America Stamp Club: an international stamp club promoted via radio by the Voice of America after WW II.
Void, Voided: 1: handstamp applied on postage due stamps in order for a carrier to receive credit for the stamps when the carrier was unable to deliver a mailpiece to which postage due stamps had already been affixed. 2: void marking used on stamps that are not considered valid U.S. postagte; such as non-postal seals, labels or foreign stamps used on U.S. origin mail.
Voie de mer: (Fr.) by sea.
Vojenska Posta: inscription for Czechoslovakian Army post stationed in Siberia, 1919-20.
Vojna Upraya Jugoslavenske Armije: Military Administration of Yugoslav Army, overprint on stamps of Yugoslavia for Zone B, Istria and Slovene Coast, 1947.
Vojsko na Rusi: inscription for Czechoslovakian army on Siberia.
Vojvodina: (Republic) local overprint, Yugoslavia, 1999s.
Volchansk: city in Russia, Zemstvo local post; 1872-83, see Zemstvo.
Volgograd: formerly Stalingrad, USSR.
Volkerbund: (Ger.) League of Nations.
Volksabstimmung: (Ger.) overprint on stamps of Saar for 1935 plebiscite.
Volksdienst: semipostals, Netherlands.
Volkshilfe: (Ger.) People’s Help, charity issue.
Volksrepublik China: (Ger.) People’s Republic of China.
Volksrust: township in the Transvaaal; 1900, June 23: fiscal stamps overprinted ‘V.R.I.’ during British occupation.
Volksstaat Bayern: (Ger.) People’s State, 1919-20 overprint on stamps of Bavaria.
Volksstaat Würtemberg: (Ger.) People’s State, overprint on official stamps of Wurtemberg.
Vollandig: (Ger.) full margins.
Vollständiger Satz: (Ger.) complete set.
Vollständig: (Ger.) complete.
Volo: 1: French post office in Ottoman Empire opened 1857, closed 1861, reopened 1879, closed 1881. 2: city in Greece, Interpostal Seals used 1868, see Interpostal Seals. 3. (It.) flight
Volo di Ritorno, New York-Roma: (It.) “return flight, New York-Rome; overprint on General Balbo stamps of Italy, Sc. C48.
Volo orbitale: (It.) space (thematic).
Volo Transatlantico con Aereo da Turimo: (It.) 100 sheets printed by the Italian Ministry of Posts to commemorate Jan. 6, 1949 flight Milan to Buenos Aires.
Volsk: city in Russia, Zemstvo local post; 1885-98, see Zemstvo.
Vom empfanger einzuziehen: (Ger.) “from receiver to be collected” inscription on stamps of Bavaria and Danzig, postage due.
Vom empfänger zahlbar: (Ger.) “from receiver to be paid” (Payable by addressee) inscription on stamps of Bavaria, postage due, 1862-76, and Danzig 1921-39.
Von: (Ger.) from.
Von Angeli: painted the 1887 Jubilee portrait of Queen Victoria used on colonial British stamps.
Vonat: (Hung.) railroad train.
Von Meister numbers: numbers in lower left corner of Zeppelin covers applied by U.S. F. von Meister to keep track of covers flown on the various flights, first used on the1930 European-Pan-American flight of the Graf Zeppelin.
Voor Het Kind: (Dut,) “For the children,” inscription on stamps of Netherlands, semipostal.
Voor Het National Steunfunds: Surinam, semipostals for the National Welfare Fund..
Voor Krijgsgevanfenen.: air mail special delivery semipostal, overprint on stamps of Netherlands Antilles, for prisoners of war..
Vorausentweetung: (Ger.) precancel.
Vorausfrankierung: (Ger.) prepayment of postage, as in postage meters.
Vorderseite: (Ger.) front side (of a cover).
Vorläufer: (Ger.) forerunner.
Vorms: bogus Russian issue, not valid for postage.
Vörös (also piros): (Hung.) red (color).
Vörösbor: (Hung.) claret, burgundy (color).
Vörösesbarna: (Hung.) red(dish)-brown, sienna (color).
Vörösesibolya: (Hung.) red(dish)-violet (color).
Vöröseskék: (Hung.) red(dish)-blue, Turkish blue (color).
Vörös Kereszt: (Hung.) (the) Red Cross.
Vörösréz: (Hung.)copper-red (color) (also rézvörös).
Vorphilatelistisch: (Ger.) pre-philatelic.
Vostochiya Siberia: local, cinderella, 1990s.
V.P.M.: Voie Paquebots de la Méditerranée (Fr.) via Mediterranean paqueboat.
V.R.: “Victoria Regina” overprint on stamps of Fiji to mark change by King Cakobau to Britain, 1874-77.
VR – Valtion Rautatiet: (Fin.) [Finland] State Railways.
V.R. Essay: the 1840 British penny black with “V” and “R” in top corner was originally intended as an essay, but now called “Prepared for use but not issued.”
V.R.I.: Victoria Regina Imperatriz, overprint on stamps of areas occupied by British in South Africa; when Lord Roberts entered Pretoria on June 5, 1900, as head of the British occupation Forces; Orange Free State.
V.R. Special Post: overprint on stamps of Transvaal, for Cape of Good Hope British Occupation of Vryburg, 1900.
Vrt: (abbr.) vertical.
V.R. Transvaal: overprint on stamps of South African Republic for Transvaal, 1878-79; see Transvaal.
Vryburg: town in British Bechuanaland, 1899, Nov.: occupied by the Boers, overprinted stamps of the Cape of Good Hope “Z.A.R.” (Zuid Afrikaansche Republiek), 1900, May: British forces retook town, overprinted stamps of the Transvaal “V.R./Special Post.”
VT: USPS abbreviation for Vermont.
Vuelo: (Sp.) flight.
V.U.J.A., S.T.T.: Vojna Uprava Jugoslavenske Armije Slobodna Teritorija Trsta (Serbo-Croatian) Military Administration Yugoslav Army, (Free Territory of Trieste), 1949.overprint on stamps of Yugoslavia for Free Territory of Trieste, Zone B, 1948 – 54.
V.U.J.N.A., S.T.T.: Vojna Uprava Jugoslavenske Narodne Armije, Slobodni Terorij Trsta – (Serbian) Military Administration of Yugoslav National Army, Free Territory of Trieste,, Zone B, 1948 – 54.
Vurthem: South Africa issue named after the stamp designer.
Vychod: (Czech.) East.
Vychodni Nemecko: (Czech.) East Germany (DDR).
Vychodni Timor: (Czech.) East Timor.
Vychodoafricka: (Czech.) East Africa
Vychodoafricky: (Czech.) East African.
Vychodocinské More: (Czech.) East China Sea.
Výplatni známky: (Czech.) definitive stamps.
Vykort: (Swed.) picture postcard.
Vykortssamlingar: (Swed.) picture postcard collections.
Vystava: (Czech.) exhibition.
Vystrizek: (Czech.) postage stamp(s) on piece of paper or envelope.
Vzducholodni posta: (Czech.) airship mail, zeppelin.
Vzorec: (Czech.) specimen overprint.

U

U: 1: Scott Catalog number prefix for Envelope or Letter Sheet. 2: auction abbreviation term for Used. 3: Udine (It.) pre-adhesive postmark 4: Ungarn (Ger.) Hungary. 5. prefix letter by the U.S. Bank Note Company in front of the plate number.
UA: 1: Unaddressed. 2: auction abbreviation for used abroad.
U.A.E.: see United Arab Emirates.
U.A.E.: overprint on stamps of Abu Dhabi.
Syria. 3: (with value in “m”and “f”) Egypt. 4: with Official; United Arab Republic, Egypt.
Uægte: (Dan.) false, forgery, counterfeit, see Forfalskning.
U.A.R.: 1: see United Arab Republic, 2: (with value in “p”) Uasta: city in Egypt, Interpostal Seals used 1868, see Interpostal Seals.
Ubangi-Shari (Chad): Western Africa, north of the Equator; currency: 100 centimes = 1 franc 1910: French Congo divided into the three colonies of Gabon, Middle Congo and Ubango-Shari, and named “French Equatorial Africa,” 1915: No.1, 1 centime olive-gray and brown, stamps of Middle Congo overprinted “Oubangui-Chari-Tchad,” 1916: first semipostal stamp issued, 1922: stamps of Middle Congo overprinted “Oubangui-Chari,” 1924: stamps of Middle Congo overprinted “Oubangui-Chari” and “Afrique Equatoriale Française,” 1928: postage due stamps of France overprinted, “Oubangui-Chari /A.E.F” 1934: became a single administrative unit including Chad, see Central African Republic.
Ubeda: city in Spain, Spanish Civil War local post, Republican forces, 1937.
Überbreite marken: (Ger.) oversize stamps; unusually wide margins.
Uber Christkindl: label sold in Austria for mail from the town of Christkindl at Christmas.
Überdrucken: (Ger.) surcharge.
Überdruck: (Ger.) overprint.
Übergehender stempel: (Ger.) cancel tying stamp to cover.
Überrandug: (Ger.) very large margins.
Überroller (oberroller): (Ger.) an item of mail caught in transit during a military campaign and subsequently delivered, usually with censor markings of the occupying power.
Übersenden: (Ger.) forward.
Überzogenes Papier: (Ger.) coated paper.
U-Boot marke: (Ger.) U-boat stamps.
Ubrugt: (Dan.) mint, hinged.
Ubrugt uden gummi: (Dan.) unused, no gum.
Ubrugt uden hængsel: (Dan.) mint, never hinged.
Ubrukt: (Nor.) mint, hinged.
UBSV- Ukrainscher-Briefmarken-Sammler-Verein: (Ger.) Ukraine Stamp Collector Group; located in Austria.
UC: 1: Scott Catalog number prefix for Airmail Envelope or Letter Sheet. 2: Upper Canada, pre-adhesive postmark.
UCAK ILT: inscription on etiquette, by air, Turkey.
UCAK Postalari: (Turk.) inscription on Turkey, air mail.
Ucceilo: (It.) birds (thematic).
U.C.Co.: local post, Upper Columbia Tramway. and Navigation Co., Canada, carried mail by steamboat, 1898.
UCIA: (on vertically cut half stamp) St. Lucia.
Uckfield Post: United Kingdom postal strike: local post 1971.
UCM: Scott Catalog number prefix for Military Airmail Envelopes (U.S. RF overprints).
Ucrain: (Rom) Ukraine.
Ucraina: (It.) Ukraine.
Ucrania: (Sp.) Ukraine.
Ucrainian: (Rom) Ukraine, Ukrainian (adj.).
UCS, UT: Unitrade Specialized Canada Catalog
Udbedret: (Dan.) repaired.
UDC: Undated Circular Cancel
Uden: (Dan.) without.
Udgave: (Dan.) stamp issue.
Udgavedata: (Dan.) issue date.
Udine: city in Italy, local post, 1918.
Udland: (Dan.) overseas areas, foreign countries.
Udmurtia: 2002, Jan. 14: illegal labels, purporting to be stamps, Russian Federation report to the UPU; not valid for postage.
U.D.P.: (It.) Ufficio della Posta (Post Office Official) pre-adhesive postmark.
Udstilling: (Dan.) exhibition.
Udvalg: (Nor.) selection.
UE: Scott Catalog number prefix for Special delivery Envelope (Hawaii).
UEPT: European Union of Posts and Telecommunications; started by Germany on Oct. 19, 1942 for the European countries it occupied during WW II.
UF: 1: Scott Catalog number prefix for Registration Envelope (Canal Zone). 2: Ufficio Francese (It.) French Post Office. 3: Union Française (Fr.) French Union.
Ufficiale: (It.) official.
Ufficiale postale: (It.) post office.
Ufficioso: (It.) unofficial.
Ufrankeret: (Dan.) not franked (with stamps), unfranked, without stamps, stampless.
Ufulu: (Independence) with “Malawi”, issued July 1964.
U.G.: (with value) Uganda Protectorate, 1895.
U.G.A.I.: Ungummed as Issued.
Uganda: : in East Africa at the Equator; currency: 50 cowries = 4 pence, 16 annas = 1 rupee = 200 cowries (1896), 100 cents = 1 Ugandan schilling (1962) 1890, May: Imperial British East Africa Company administered the area, 1895, July 1: declared a British Protectorate, 1895-96: No.1, 10 cowries black, first issues were typewritten produced by a missionary, Rev. E. Millar, 1898: stamps pictured Queen Victoria inscribed Uganda Protectorate, 1901, April: joined the UPU, 1902: postal services of British East Africa and Uganda were merged, stamps of “British East Africa” overprinted “Uganda,” 1903: stamps inscribed “East Africa and Uganda Protectorates,” 1922: stamps inscribed “Kenya and Uganda,” 1935: inscribed “Kenya, Uganda and Tanganyika,” 1962, Oct. 9: stamps inscribed “Uganda” as independent member of the British Commonwealth, 1964, Feb. 13: joined the UPU, 1967, Jan. 3: first postage due stamp, 1998, Jan. 18: first semipostal stamp; see Kenya, Kenya-Uganda, Tanganyika and Tanzania.
Uganda, East Africa, Kenya: Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.
Uganda, Kenya: Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.
Uganda, Kenya, Tanganyika: Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.
Ugummieret: (Dan.) (unused stamp) without gum, no gum.
Ugyldig: (Nor.) invalid
U.H.: overprint on stamps of Ecuador, late fee tax.
Uhersko: (Czech.) Hungary.
Uhersky: (Czech.) Hungarian.
Uhisabi: Charity on Estonian Christmas seals.
Uhuru 1963: Zanzibar.
Uhuru 9th Dec. 1961: overprint on stamps of Tanganyika.
Uitgave: (Dut.) issue.
Új Guinea: (Hung.) New Guinea.
Új Hebridák: (Hung.) New Hebrides.
Új Kaledonia: (Hung.) New Caledonia.
Újság: (Hung.) newspaper.
Újságposta: (Hung.) newspaper stamp.
Új Zéland: (Hung.) New Zealand.
UK: 1. United Kingdom, includes England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. 2. international postal code for Ukraine.
Ukendt: (Dan.) unknown.
Ukjent: (Nor.) unknown.
Ukraina: 1. inscription on stamps of Ukraine. 2. (Swed.) the Ukraine.
Ukraine: southeastern Europe, region of southwest Russia; official name of postal administration: Ukrposhta currency: 200 shahiv = 100 koplyok (kopecks) = 1 karbovanets (ruble), 100 shahiv = 1 hryvnia, 100 kopecks = 1 ruble (1992), 100 kopiyka = 1 karbovanets (1992), 100 kopiyka = 1 hryvnia (1996) 1864: Zemstvos issued as a local stamp; 790 stamps in 39 Ukrainian towns, 1917: Russian Revolution, Ukraine used Russian stamps, 1918, Jan. 22: Ukrainian National Republic declared, 1918, July: No. 1 10 shahiv buff, first stamp, 1918, Aug. 20, republic, first overprinted stamps denominated in Ukrainian currency, 1919, Apr.: 35K and 70K surcharge issued by the Soviets in the Ukraine, 1919: Polish eagle and diagonal overprints may be of private origin, 1920: printer’s waste and unissued sets exist, 1920, Aug. 26: military stamps for communications between government in exile while in Poland and military units in field, 1920, Nov.: formed into a Soviet Republic, stamps overprinted for the Ukrainian National Army, 1921: handstamp “Vilna Ukraina / 1921″ and “Doplata” are of private origin, 1921: Trident stamps of Ukraine & Russia, Russia Offices in Turkey, South Russia surcharged as “Deniken Issue;” Trident overprints exist as local issues, 1923, June 25: issued semipostals for Famine Relief, 1923: overprint “UPP” by Ukrainian government-in-exile for Field Post never officially issued, 1923: absorbed into the USSR, 1941-43: “Ukraine” overprint on stamps of Germany for occupation of Ukraine. 1947, May 13: joined the UPU, 1991, Dec. 8: joined with other former Soviet states to form the Commonwealth of Independent States, 1991, Dec. 26: Ukraine declared independent, 2001, Apr.1: registration stamp issued.
Ukraine Antarctic Post: bogus Russian Federation Republic; local overprint and stamps.
Ukraine, German Occupation: stamps of Germany overprinted “Ostland” for use in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, 1941. Ukraine, Western: Post WW II, eastern Galicia, a portion of the Austro-Hungarian Empire was independent, 1918: stamps of Austria overprinted Ykp.H.P. and surcharged, 1919, May: stamps of Austria ovrprinted 3.Y.H.P. symbols of the Cryllic alphabet and initials of Western Ukrainian National Republic, became part of Poland. Ukrainian Arctic Post: bogus Russian issue.
Ukrainian easter eggs: label design issued by the scouting organization.
Ukrainian Post: Cyrillic framed inside a stamp outline on postal meter paper, applied in Kiev post offices, for use of exiles in captivity in Regensburg waiting for repatriation, 1945.
Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic: area part of Poland and Lithuania; 1918: proclaimed a republic, stamps were overprint of the trident emblem on stamps of Russia, 1922: joined with other Soviet republics to form the USSR, 1923: used stamps of the USSR, 1941: stamps of Germany overprinted “Ukraine” during occupation, WWII-post: Ukraine acquired Bessarabla and North Bucovina.
Ukrainien Forces in Bosien: bogus overprint on Russian stamps.
Ukrainien / Military / Contingent in Structure: bogus overprint on pairs of Ukrainian stamps.
Ukrainsk: (Swed.) tUkrainian.
Ukrainska Narodna Republica: (Ukraine) Ukraine People’s Republic.
Ukrajina: (Czech.) the Ukraine.
Ukrajinsky: (Czech.) Ukrainian.
Ukrajna: (Hung.) Ukraine.
Ukrán: (Hung.) Ukrainian.
Ukrbat on Un Bosnia: bogus overprint on stamps of Ukraine.
U.K. Special Delivery Service: United Kingdom postal strike: local post 1971.
U.K.T.T.: overprint on stamps of Nigeria, Southern Cameroons for Cameroons.
Uku Leta: (Haw.) paid letter, Hawaii.
UL: abbreviation for upper left.
Ulithi Atoll: bogus overprint on U.S. stamps for coral island in the Caroline Islands, 1954.
Ulldecona: city in Spain, Spanish Civil War local post, Republican forces, 1937.
Ulleberg Local Post: see Drammen – G. O. Ulleberg Local Post
Ulm: city in Germany, local post, Privat-Stadt-Brief-Verkehr, 1896-97.
Ulm-Donau: German displaced person camp, local post, 1950.
Ulster: see Northern Ireland.
Ultramar: 1: (Port.) specimen, overprint on examples of stamps sent to the UPU. 2: (Sp.) overseas, inscription found on stamps of Cuba; see Specimen. 3: (Sp.) Beyond the Sea; (with year) (Sp.) Cuba, Puerto Rico. 4: (Sp.) Beyond the Sea;(with value in avos) (Sp.) Macao, war tax stamps. 5: (Sp.) Beyond the Sea; (with value in reis) (Sp.) Portuguese Guinea war tax stamps. 6: (Sp.) untramarine (color).
Ultramarin: (Dan., Nor., Swed., Rom.) ultramarine (color).
Ultramarinakt blå: (Swed.) ultramarinish-blue (color).
Ultramarin-cenusiu: (Rom.) grey-ultramarine (color).
Ultramarinakt djupblå: (Swed.) ultramarinish-deep blue (color).
Ultramarinakt grå: (Swed.) ultramarinish-grey (color).
Ultramarinakt violett: (Swed.) ultramarinish-violet (color).
Ultramarinblå: (Swed.) ultramarine-blue (color).
Ultramaringrå: (Dan., Swed.) ultramarine-grey (color).
Ultramarínová: (Czech.) ultramarine (color).
Ultramarinviolett: (Swed.) ultramarine-violet (color).
Ultra min: (Ger.) ultramarine (color).
Ultranarine(kék): (Hung.) ultramarine (color).
Ultraviolet (UV): lamp that gives off two different wave lengths-Shortwave and Longwave. Shortwave UV light will highlight phosphor tagging, either in the printing ink or the coating on a stamp. Longwave UV light will spot fluorescence in the paper of a stamp or cover.
U/M: 1: unidad militar (Sp.) military unit, used by Cuban personnel in Angola, 1985. 2: abbreviation for unmounted mint, never hinged.
Umändern: (Ger.) to alter.
Umbrabarna: (Hung.) umber-brown (color).
Umbuggianistan: hand drawn fantasy for bogus nation.
Umdruck: (Ger.) offset.
Umm al Quwain: Oman Peninsula on the Arabian Gulf; currency: 100 naye paise = 1 rupee, 100 dirham = 1 riyal (1967) 1964, June 29: No. 1 1 naye paise multicolor, 1965: first air mail stamp, 1965, Dec. 22: first air mail official, first official, 1971, Dec. 2: as part of the United Arab Emirates, six sheikdoms proclaimed independence, 1973, Jan. 1: used stamps of United Arab Emirates; see Trucual States, United Arab Emirates.
Umm Said: Qatar, 1956, Feb.-March 31, 1957: British operated a postal service using the stamps of the British Postal Agencies of Eastern Arabia, Scott listed under Muscat and Oman.
Umrandung: (Ger.) frame, border.
Umschlag: (Ger.) cover, envelope.
UN: 1: United Nations. 2: abbreviation for unused
Unaddr: unaddressed.
Unaddressed: cover which has no address.
Unappropiated dies: British term for fiscal stamp with space provided in their design for their purpose to be filled in.
UNAVEM I, II and III: United Nations Angola Verification Missions for withdrawal of Cuban troops, Norway and Sweden forces, Jan.1989 – March 1996.
Unbekannt: (Ger.) unknown.
Unbenutzt: (Ger.) unused.
Unc.: auction abbreviation term for uncirculated.
Uncat: abbreviation for uncatalogued.
Uncatalogued: known to exist, but not listed in the catalog,
UNCHE: United Nations Conference on the Human Environment
UNCRO: United Nations Confidence Restoration Operation in Croatia, May 1995-Jan. 1996.
Uncut press sheets: large sheets of two or more panes of stamps that represent one turn, or half turn of the printing press.
Undantag: (Swed.) exception.
Undeliverable as addressed: mail that cannot be delivered s addressed and must either forward to the addressee, return to sender, or send to a mail recovery center.
Undeliverable mail: mail that cannot be delivered to as addressed.
Undenominated stamp: postage stamp with no indication of value,printed in anticipation of a postage rate increase.
Undercover addresses: see drop addresses.
Underfranked: a cover with an insufficient amount of postage to prepay the service requested.
Underfrankerat: (Swed.) insufficiently franked.
Underinked stamps: cased by too little ink being applied to the plate during printing; sometimes known as dry prints.
Underkant: (Nor.) lower edge.
Underpaid Mail: term used for US 5¢ fee charged from July 1, 1958 to July 31, 1958 for short paid postage; used postage due stamps.
Underprint: 1: a security device where a color, design or pattern is printed on the paper before the stamp design is applied. 2: words or figures printed on the back of a stamp; sometimes used to describe a design printed on the front of the stamp.
Underwater Mail: first underwater post office was established in Vanuatu, May 2003, open limited hours, with waterproof synthetic material postcards.
Underwood, Alex. & Co.: inscription on Match stamp; see Private die proprietary stamps.
Undeutsche Undemokratische Republik: (Ger.) “Ungerman Undemocratic Republic” inscription on forged stamps of East Germany by West Germany.
Undivided Back: postcard without the dividing line to separate the message section from the address.
UNDOF: United Nations Disengagement Force in the Golan Heights, March 1979 – Dec.1993.
Undtagelse: (Dan.) exception.
UNEF: 1: United Nations Emergency Forces 1 started in1956 in Egypt after Egypt’s nationalisation of the Suez Canal; consisted of DA(nmark) and NOR(way) (DANOR) troops; Denmark 1956-67, Norway March 1959 – June 1967, Finland Dec. 1956 – Dec.1957, and Sweden March 1959 – June 1967. 2: United Nations Emergency Forces 2 back in Suez Canal area to supervise the cease-fire after the Yom Kippur was in 1973; Finland Oct. 1973 – Aug. 1979, Sweden Oct. 1973 – April 1980.
UNEF: 1965; Children’s Day stamp of the Republic of India overprint for use by Indian forces with the United Nations Emergency Forces in Gaza.
Unemployed intellectuals stamps: French stamps issued 1935-1940 with a premium for unemployed intellectuals; Hungary issued similar stamps in 1940 for unemployed artists.
UNESCO: 1: United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization 2: common design of the British Commonwealth of Nations, 1966-67.
UNESCO: inscription/surcharge on Afghanistan and France issues.
Unexploded: a booklet in the state in which it was sold by the post office.
UNFICYP: United Nations Forces in Cyprus, Danish May 1964 – Dec. 1992, Finnish March 1964 – Oct. 1977, and Swedish forces March 1964 – Oct. 1993.
U.N. Force (India) Congo: 1962, Jan. 15: stamps of India overprinted “UNEF” U.N. Emergency Force in the Congo and Gaza, for use of Indian troops making up the United Nations forces.
U.N. Force W. Irian: Feb. 15, 1963: overprint on stamps of Pakistan to be used as military stamps.
Ung.: (Ger.) Ungarn (Hungary). pre-adhesive postmark.
Ungaresc: Hungarian (adj.).
Ungarn: (Dan., Ger., Nor., Swed.) Hungary.
Ungarnshjaelpen: Denmark overprint on stamps for Hungarian Refugees.
Ungarnsk: (Dan.) Hungarian.
Ungarnhilfe: Austria overprint on stamps for Hungarian Refugees.
Ungebraucht: (Ger.) mint, unused.
Ungebraucht ohne gummi: (Ger.) no gum, the stamp has no sign of gum.
Ungefalzt: (Ger.) unhinged.
Ungeria: (It.) Hungary.
Ungeripptes papier: (Ger.) wove paper.
Ungern: (Swed.) Hungary.
Ungersk: (Dan., Nor., Swed.) Hungarian.
Ungestempeit: (Ger.) unused.
Ungezähnt: (Ger.) imperforate.
UNGOMAP: United Nations Good Offices Mission in Afghanistan and Pakistan, Denmark and Sweden, May 1998-March 1999.
Un-gültig: (Ger.) overprint on stamps of Germany, not valid of postage.
Ungummed: stamps issued without any gum usually due to climatic conditions.
Ungummiert: (Ger.) ungummed.
Unhcr/UNRWA/1971: Bhutan air mail overprint for World Refugee Year.
Unhinged: stamps without any traces of hinge marks.
Uniao dos Atiradores Civis Porto Franco: Union of Civilian Riflemen club inscription on stamps of Portugal, franchise issue.
UNICEF: United Nations Children’s Fund
Unico: (It., Sp.) unique.
Unido: (Sp.) a connected pair of strip of stamps.
Unie van Zuid Afrika: (Afrikaan) Union of South Africa.
Unificato: specialized catalogue of Italian area, including colonies, Trieste, etc.
UNIFIL: United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, Finland 1982, Norway, 1978 and Sweden 1978.
Uniform Fourpenny Post: from Dec. 5, 1839 to Jan. 9, 1840, letters posted in Britain were charged a uniform rate of 4d, instead of the postage calculated by distance.
Uniform Penny Post: started in Great Britain in Jan. 1840, with a basic rate of 1d per half ounce regardless of distance carried, and discontinued in 1918.
UNIIMOG: United Nations Iran-Iraq Military Observer Group, Finland, Norway and Sweden, Aug. 1988-Feb. 1991.
U.N. Interim Administration in Kosovo: issued March 14, 2000, service local for first two months, then international usage.
UNIKOM: United Nations Iraq-Kuwait Observation Mission, Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden; April 1991- Jan. 196.
Union: 1: island in Grenadines of St. Vincent, stamps first issued in 1976. 2: French produced bogus issue for Philippine islands.
Union City, Tennessee Paid 5: questionable; see Confederate Postmasters’ Provisionals.
Unione delle Repubbliche Socialiste Sovietiche: (It.) Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (U.S.S.R.).
Unión de Repúblicas Socialistas Soviéticas: (Sp.) Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (U.S.S.R.).
Union de Republiques Socialistes Sovietiques: (Fr.) Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (U.S.S.R.)
Unione delle Repubbliche Socialiste Sovietiche: (It.) Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (U.S.S.R.).
Union Express: private mail delivery serviced Ohio and Pennsylvania, used labels, c1879.
Union Française Royaume du Laos: (Fr.) Laos.
Union Internationale des Telecommunications: Switzerland Official stamps for International Telecommunications Union.
Union Island: part of the St. Vincent Grenadines; Do NOT confuse with Union Islands. 1976, Sep. 23 and July 19, 1982: St. Vincent Grenadines issued stamps inscribed Union Island, 1984, Mar. 29: No. 1 1 cent pair.
Union Jack: term for the flag of the United Kingdom, England.
Union Jack re-entry: on stamp L-K, plate no. 75 of the 1841 British penny red, Die 1, doubling of the top corner “stars,” making a ‘Union Jack’ effect.
Union Match Co.: inscription on Match stamp; see Private die proprietary stamps.
Union of Myanmar: 2001 sheets that are illegal and not issued by postal administration, UPU circular no. 428,, issued Nov. 25, 2002.
Union of P.O. Workers: United Kingdom postal strike: local post 1971.
Union of South Africa: South Africa, 1910-26. 1910, May 31: Cape of Good Hope, Natal, Orange Free State and Transvaal incorporated in Union of South Africa, 1910, May 31: each territory used its own stamps, 1910, Aug. 18: government authorized use of valid postage and revenue stamps of each territory throughout the Union, 1913, Sept. 1: first definitive issue, 1938, Jan. 1: pre-Union stamps demonetized; see South Africa. Union of Soviet Socialist Republics: (Soviet Union) existed from 1922 to 1991 and comprised 15 Soviet republics and hundreds of ethnic groups; see Russia.
Union of South Africa: see South Africa.
Union Panamericano 1890-1926 Correo Aereo: (Sp.) PanAmerican Union, Guatemala air mail.
Union Post: U. S. local post, New York, N. Y., 1846.
Union Postale Arabe: Libya, Arab Postal Union.
Union Postale del Salvador: (Sp.) El Salvador.
Union Postale Universelle – Helvetia: 1957; inscription for Switzerland official stamps of the Universal Postal Union International Bureau.
Union Square Post Office: U. S. local post, New York, N. Y., 1852; see Dunhams Post Office.
Union stamp: propaganda labels issued by the Irish nationalist groups, sold to raise money for their cause.
Union Town, Ala. CSA Postage 2, 5, 10: see Confederate Postmasters’ Provisionals.
Unionville, S. C. Paid 5: see Confederate Postmasters’ Provisionals.
UNIPOM: United Nations India-Pakistan Observation Mission; Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden, Sept. 1965-March 1966.
Unique: no other stamp like it.
Unissued stamp: a stamp that has been prepared for use but not issued.
Unita – Angola: National Union for the Total Independence of Angola; stamps supposedly issued by rebel movement in Angola but produced by a stamp dealer.
United Arab Emirates: federation of six sheikdoms in Arabia, on the border of the southern coast of the Persian (Arabian) Gulf, aka Trucial States; currency: 1,000 fils = 1 dinar, 100 fils = 1 dirham (1973) 1971, Dec. 2: Abu Dhabi, Ajman, Dubai, Fujeira, Sharjah and Umm al-Qiwain formed the UAE with Ras al Khaima joining in Feb.1972, used own stamps, 1972, Aug.: No.1, 5 fils multicolor, stamps of Abu Dhabi overprinted “UAE,” used in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah, 1973, Jan. 1: first UAE stamp, 1973, March 30: joined the UPU.
United Arab Republic: 1958, Feb.: union formed by Egypt and Syria, 1958, Mar. 22: stamps issued by Egypt for UAR, 1958, Oct. 6: stamps of Syria overprinted “RAU,” 1958: No.1 12 ½ pence yellow and green, Egypt and Syria linked design, 1961: Syria withdrew; Egypt still uses the name, see Syria.
United Automobile Service: United Kingdom postal strike: local post 1971.
United Carriage Co. Express: private parcel delivery serviced Ohio and Pennsylvania, used a stamp.
United China Relief: labels, issued to raise funds, 1940s.
United Europe stamp: issued Sept. 15, 1956 in Belgium, France, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and West Germany to mark the European Coal and Steel Community Conference held in Messina in June1955.
United Horan State: 1924 European cinderella used on private postcards that did not go through the mail, part of Cooland and West Refaim.
United Ireland: fantasy from American Journal of Philately.
United Kingdom: consists of Great Britain and Northern Ireland; see Great Britain.
United Kingdom, Regional Issues: see Guernsey, Isle of Man, Jersey, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales.
United Nations (UN): stamps are sold in the UN Building in New York, Geneva and Vienna and have postal validity throughout the world, currency: United States in New York, Swiss in Switzerland, and Austrian in Vienna 1945, Oct. 24: charter signed by 50 nations, 1950-69: used stamps of Switzerland overprinted for Palais des Nations, 1951, Oct. 24: first US stamp, No.1, 1¢ magenta, from New York City, 1969, Oct. 4: first Swiss stamp, No. 1, 5 centimes purple and multi; from Geneva, 1979, Aug. 24: first Austrian No. 1, 50 groschen multicolored; from Vienna.
United Nations European Offices:1950: “Nations Unies Office Europeen” overprint on stamps of Switzerland.
United Nations, Kosovo: currency: 100 pfennings = 1 mark 2000, Mar. 14: No.1, 20 pfennings multicolored issued by U.N. Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo, 2002, May 2: denominations in Euros only.
United Nations, Offices in New York, Geneva, Kosovo, West New Guinea, Vienna: 1951-current; found in the Scott Catalogue Volume 1 immediately after United States-Ryukyu Islands.
United Nations, West New Guinea: southwest Pacific Ocean, western half of New Guinea; currency: 100 cents = 1 gulden 1962, Oct.1: former Netherlands New Guinea became territory under the administration of U.N. Temporary Executive Authority, 1963, May 1: Indonesian Administration took over, 1962: stamps of Netherlands New Guinea overprinted “UNTEA.”
United Republic of Tanganyika & Zanzibar: Tanzania. 1875, July 1: joined the UPU.
United Russia: inscription on stamps of South Russian Government of General Denikin; 1918-19; see Russia, South.
United State of Saurashtra: near Bombay, India; 1948: formed by 217 states of Kathiawar Peninsula, 1949: No. 1, 1 anna deep claret, “Service” manuscript for offiicial use, 1956: became part oft heBombay State.
United State of Travancore-Cochin, India: 1949, July 1: stamps of Travancore and Cochin surcharged “Service” for official use.
United States Administration of Cuba: see Cuba.
United States Administration of Guam: see Guam.
United States Administration of Korea: 1946, February 1: stamps of Japan surcharged; see Korea.
United States Administration of the Canal Zone: 1904-79; see Canal Zone.
United States Administration of the Philippines: 1899: Philippines overprint on stamps of the United States, 1906, September 8: “Philippine Islands / United States of America” inscription on stamps of the Philippines; see Philippines.
United States Administration of Puerto Rico: 1898: handstamped square, aka The “Ponce” Issue and circle, aka the “Coamo” Issue; 1899: “Porto Rico” overprint on stamps of the United States; see Puerto Rico.
United States and Canada Express: private mail and parcel delivery serviced New England and eastern Canada provinces, used labels, c1850s.
United States City Despatch Post: 1842-46, New York, NY; see Carriers’ Stamps.
United States Code (USC): the official restatement of the general and permanent laws of the United States; title 39 USC contains laws relating to the USPS.
United States Envelope Company: manufacturer of stamped envelopes.
United States Express Company: private parcel delivery serviced northern states New England to Denver, used corner cards, labels, stamps, 1854-1914.
United States Military Rule of Korea: 1946, Jan. 1: stamps of Japan surcharged, 1948, May 10: stamps for Republic of Korea issued; see Korea, South
United States of America: North America, between Canada and Mexico; Stamps of this country can be found in these catalogs: Brookman, Michel, Sassone, Scott, Stanley Gibbons, Yvert et Tellier; Currency: 100 cents = 1 dollar. 1639: Mass. General Court appointed Richard Fairbanks in charge of letters entering and leaving the colony by sea, 1660: New Amsterdam, (re-named New York in 1664) erects mail box for outgoing mails, 1661: Virginia had a route where mail was carried from plantation to plantation, 1673, 1 January: mail service established between New York and Boston, 1683: William Penn (1644-1718), the founder of Pennsylvania, establishes weekly mail services to Newcastle, Delaware, the only post office in the colony until 1755, 1692: by acts of several Colonial Legislatures, various postal rates dependent on distances for single sheet letters established, 1693, 1 May: Andrew Hamilton, based in New York, was appointed Deputy Postmaster General of the colonies serving under the Master of the Royal Mint in London, who was given the right to operate a postal system in North America, 1710: by Act of Parliament, various postal rates dependent on distances established for the American colonies, 1753: Benjamin Franklin, Postmaster of Philadelphia, was appointed U.S. Deputy Postmaster General, was able to demonstrate a profit for the first time by establishing a penny post in the larger cities, had a mail wagon service, and delivered all newspapers for a fee, 1756, 15 March: earliest recorded postal handstamp for colonial United States during the British period (pre-1776): unframed two-line “NEW / YORK”, 1764: earliest recorded postal handstamp for colonial Philadelphia during the British period (pre-1776): unframed two line “PHILA / DELPHIA”, 1765: by an Act of Parliament, revised postal rates dependent on distances established for the American colonies, 1765, 25 April: earliest recorded postal handstamp for colonial Georgia during the British period (pre-1776): unframed straight line “SAVANNA”, 1766, 23 January: earliest recorded postal handstamp for colonial Connecticut during the British period (pre-1776): unframed two-line “HART / FORD”, 1776, 4 July: independence from Great Britain declared, 1776, 31 July: earliest recorded postal handstamp for colonial Maryland during the British period (pre-1776): unframed two-line “ANNA / POLIS”, 1769, 19 February: earliest recorded postal handstamp for colonial Massachusetts during the British period (pre-1776): unframed straight-line “BOSTON”, 1769, 19 June: earliest recorded postal handstamp for colonial South Carolina during the British period (pre-1776): unframed two-line “CHARLES / TOWN”, 1770, 25 January: earliest recorded postal handstamp for colonial Virginia during the British period (pre-1776): unframed straight-line “WMS.BURG”, 1770, 2 July: earliest recorded postal handstamp for colonial North Carolina during the British period (pre-1776): oval-framed “NEW- / BERN”, 1771, 1 July: earliest recorded postal handstamp for colonial Rhode Island during the British period (pre-1776): unframed straight-line “NEWPORT”, 1772, 24 January: earliest recorded postal handstamp for colonial South Carolina during the British period (pre-1776): unframed straight-line “George*Town*S (space) JAN:24″, 1772, 1 July: earliest recorded postal handstamp for colonial Florida during the British period (pre-1776): unframed straight-line “PENSACOLA”, 1775, 24 February: earliest recorded postal handstamp for colonial New Hampshire during the British period (pre-1776): unframed two-line “PORTSMOUTH / FEB: 24″, 1775, 26 July: Postal Act passed by the Second Continental Congress appoints Benjamin Franklin as Postmaster General, and began operations of the Post Office under the Articles of Confederation, 1781: first organization of the United States as an independent nation through the Articles of Confederation, 1782: new U.S. Post Office Dept. designated a government monopoly by federal legislation, 1782, 15 August: earliest recorded postal handstamp including year, month and day dates; unframed two-line “BALTIMORE / August 10, 1782″, 1784, 2 June: North Carolina offered portions of its Western regions to the Federal Government because it was unable to administer or protect the territories. Although the offer was withdrawn on 20 November, the counties of Washington, Sullivan and Green independently organized the unofficial State of Franklin, which included the cities of Greenville (the appointed capital) and Jonesboro, and numerous smaller towns, in what now is the northeastern corner of Tennessee. The State of Franklin was created in August 1784, and ceased to exist on the last day of February 1788. The counties became part of Tennessee, when the former Governor of Franklin, John Sevier, became the first Governor of Tennessee. Postal history from the State of Franklin is documented, 1787: final organization of the United States as an independent nation being a Federal Republic by ratification of the Constitution, 1789: Samuel Osgood appointed first Postmaster General of the independent United States of America, 1790, 19 April: earliest recorded postal handstamp for colonial New Orleans during the Spanish period (1783-1803): single-ring, two line NEUVA / ORLEANS”, 1799; Postmaser General Joseph Habersham initiates first attempt by U.S. Post Office to standardize cancellation devices by issuing brass 26 mm diameter circular date stamps to the postmasters of twelve post offices: Georgetown Potomac (D.C.); Newark, Trenton (New Jersey); Augusta (Georgia); Newburyport (Massachusetts); Newport, Providence (Rhode Island); Pittsburgh (Pennsylvania); Alexandria, Fredericksburg, Petersburg, Washington City (Virginia); 1800, 3 June: earliest recorded postal handstamp for the territory of New Mexico during the Spanish period (1517-1821): unframed straight-line “NUEVO MEXICO”. 1804, 19 February: earliest recorded postal handstamp for the Orleans territory during the pre-territorial period (20 December 1803-30 September 1804): single ring, two line “NUEVA / ORLEANS”. 1807, 13 September: earliest recorded postal handstamp for Louisiana during the territorial period (1 October 1894-30 April 1812): unframed straight-line “BALIZE”. 1834, 17 June: Earliest recorded postal handstamp for territory of California during the Mexican period (1822-8 September 1848): unframed straight-line “FRANCO ALTA / CALIFORNIA”, 1837, 7 November: earliest recorded use of the word “Railroad” included in a postmark; the word is in Old-English-type fonts, and is on a letter carried on the Albany (New York)-based Mohawk & Hudson Railroad, 1838, 7 July: Act of Congress legislates that all railroads within the current limits and future expansion of the nation will be “postal routes” (at the time, the total railroad track mileage was 1,913), 1841, 29 August: earliest recorded postal handstamp for the territory of New Mexico during the Mexican period (1821-1846): unframed single-line “N*Orleans*”. 1845, 3 March: Act of Congress effective 1 July 1845 established revised domestic postal rates, 5¢ for any distance under 300 miles, 10¢ for any distance over 300 miles, 2¢ for drop letters and circulars, and 2-1/2¢ for pamphlets and magazines. 1845, July: New York City Postmaster Robert H. Morris issued the first of the local Postmaster Provisional postage stamps; earliest recorded usage 15 July 1845. 1847, 3 March: Act of Congress effective 1 July 1847 authorized the production of 5¢ and 10¢ federal postage stamps, and declared illegal the use of the Postmaster Provisional postage stamps, or any other postage stamp not authorized by the Postmaster General. 1847, 1 July: printed by the Rawdon, Wright, Hatch & Edson Co., the first United States 5¢ and 10¢ postage stamps were officially issued. The earliest recorded usage date for the 5¢ value is 7 July 1847, and the earliest recorded usage date for the 10¢ value is 2 July 1847. 1848, 14 August: U.S.Post Office Dept. Act. legislates that letters conveyed to or from points on the Pacific Coast will be charge 40¢ postage, and letters carried from one to any other place in California will be charged 12-1/2¢. 1849, 5 March: unofficial Territory of Deseret established in the Utah Territory by Brigham Young, existed until 1862. Correspondence from the area, as well as from other Utah areas settled by the religious group, is referred to as “Mormon” postal history. 1849-58: fastest mail route between New York and California was by packet boat via overland carriage in Central America, 1851, 3 March: Act of Congress legislates revised postal rates effective 30 June 1851, 1851: contract awarded to Toppan, Carpenter, Casilear & Co. for production of the 1851 series of postage stamps; contract valid for six years; but extended for additional four years to 10 June 1861, 1851, 1 July: 1847 5¢ and 10¢ issued declared invalid for postage effective this date, being the only U.S. postage stamps declared invalid after issuance, 1853, 1 July: first stamped envelope issued, printed by George F. Nesbitt & Co., (New York) under contract, and sold to the public at the postage value plus the cost of manufacture, 1855, 3 March: U.S.Post Office Dept. Act legislates that effective 1 April 1855 prepayment on domestic letters is compulsory, that prepayment on letters to or from a foreign country is not compulsory, and that Express Companies and others are prohibited from carrying mails unless the standard postage rate was affixed with United States postage stamps. 1855, 18 May: during the Toppan, Carpenter, Casilear & Co., contract life, Jessey Johnson was appointed the first U.S. Stamp Agent, with offices on Chestnut St., Philadelphia. Previous to Feb. 1855, printed stamps were delivered directly to Washington; afterwards, and until 1 Feruary 1869, the stamps were delivered to the Stamp Agent, and delivered by him to Washington, 1861, 1 June-18 October: Civil War period, some Confederate towns and cities introduced provisional stamps, 1861, August: due to the Civil War conflict, postage stamps and postal stationery currently available was demonitized, the post office orders extending to January 1862. The P.O. Dept. issued an order as early as 1863 to no longer redeem the demonitized postage, which consisted of the 1851-1856 issues, 1863: mailmen started delivering mail to the door in the 49 largest cities, 1863, 3 March: U.S. Post Office Dept. Act defines that effective 30 June 1863 letter mail is designated First Class Mail, reconfirming that prepayment is compulsory for domestic mails. 1863, July 1: the Free City Delivery of mail authorized by the 3 March 1863 Act of Congress goes into effect in 49 cities using 449 carriers, 1863, July: 2¢ “Black Jack” issued because 3 March 1863 Act of Congress eliminated carrier’s fees, and created a prepaid 2¢ rate for drop letters, 1864: USPOD equipped railroad cars with equipment necessary to distribute mails between Chicago and Clinton, Iowa, 1865, September: first Newspaper and Periodical postage stamps issued. 1867, 8 August: accepted date for the embossing of various size grills on U.S. postage stamps, the reason being to break the paper fibers allowing the cancellation ink to fully penetrate, and making stamp washing and re-use impossible, 1873, 3 March: Act of Congress authorized Official postage stamps, to be used because of the abolishment of franking privileges. 1873, May: first 1¢ Postal Card issued; earliest recorded usage date 10 May 1873. 1873, 1 July: Official postage stamps issued for each government department: Agriculture, Executive, Interior, Justice, Navy, Post Office, State, Treasury, and War, 1875, 1 July: U.S. joined the UPU as charter member country, 1877, 18 June: Semi-Official Air Post postage stamp issued for use on covers carried on the flight of the Buffalo Balloon ascending from Nashville and landing at Gallatin, Tennessee. 1879, March 3: Act of Congress effective 1 July 1879 authorized the usage of Postage Due stamps. 1880: U.S. Post Office Dep’t. awards first Star Route contracts for delivery of mails in rural or lightly populated areas by private carriers transporting mails from one post office to another, or from a railroad station to a post office, and usually delivering the mail to individual mail boxes located along the route. Named “Star Routes” because of the asterisks used to designate such routes in the contemporary / U.S. Post Office Department Postal Bulletins. Renamed Contract Highway Routes in 1971, 1885, 5 March: Act of Congress effective 1 October 1885 legislates that a Special Delivery service be created, limiting the services to free delivery offices and others serving populations of 4,000 or more customers. 1885, September: first Special Delivery postage stamp issued; earliest recorded usage 29 September 1885 (with 1 October delivery). 1889, 2 November: the Dakota Territory esablished 2 March 1861 became the States of North Dakota and South Dakota. 1893: Columbus Exposition set-of-16 stamps, represents the first U.S. commemorative issues. 1895, 31 March: ad in the Chicago Tribune offering two cent U.S. stamps for sale, first attempt to defrau. 1908: counterfeits of the 2¢ Washington Franklin stamp exist. 1911, 23 September: first official U.S. airmail flown at the International Aviation Tournament from Garden City Estates to Mineola, New York. Pioneer aviator Earle L. Ovington sworn in as the first official U. S. Airmail pilot, 1911, 19 October: Semi-Official Air Post postage stamp issued for postcards carried on a cross-country flight which was in competition for $50,000 for the first flight completing the trip within 30 days. The “Rodgers Aerial Post” stamp depicts the Vin Fiz Flyer, and is the first postage stamp to picture an airplane. 1911, 1 December: first United States registration postage stamp issued. 1912, 24 August: Act of Congress legislated Parcel Post postal rates for 4 th Class mail weighing 4 ounces or less. 1913, January: first parcel post Postage Due stamps issued. Earliest recorded usages include 15 January 1913 (5¢), 26 February 1913 (1¢), 7 July 1913 (2¢), 19 July 1913 (10¢) and 30 August 1913 (25¢. 1913, 1 July: first Parcel Post postage stamps issued. 1917, 6 April: U.S. declared war with Germany, 1917, 10 July: first U.S. Amy Post Office (A.P.O.) organized at St. Nazaire, France. 1917, 3 October: U.S. Congress established the War Revenue Act, which provided for free postage for all military personnel serving in overseas areas. 1917, 7 December: U.S. declared war with Austria-Hungary, 1918, 13 May: first United States Air Mail postage stamp issued, a 24¢ bicolor depicting a Curtiss Corp. Jenny. Completing the set, a 16¢ value was issued on 11 July 1918, and a 6¢ value was issued on 10 December 1918. 1918, May: Military Express Service created, with the U.S. Army assuming responsibility for the military postal services, which previously were handled by the U.S. Post Office Dept. 1919, 24 May: United States Postal Agency in China “ Shanghai” postage stamps issued; placed on sale in Shanghai on 1 July 1919; earliest recorded usage 2 July 1919. 1920, 8 September: first New York-San Francisco trans-continental airmail route inaugurated, 1920, 15 October: first Seattle-Victoria, British Columbia, regular airmail on contracted route inaugurated, U.S. Foreign Air Mail (F.A.M.) Route No. 2 by Hubbard Air Transport. The service expedited the Far East mails, routed via ships docking at Victoria. 1920, 1 November: first Key West, Florida- Havana, Cuba regular airmail routed on contracted route inaugurated on U. S. Foreign Air Mail (F.A.M.) Route No. 4 by Florida West Indies Airways. 1922: counterfeits of the 2¢ Fourth Bureau stamp issue exist, perf. 12 or 14, genuine is perf. 11. 1923, 9 April: first New Orleans-Pilottown, Louisiana, regular airmail route on contract route inaugurated on U.S. Foreign Air Mail (F.A.M.) Route No. 3 by Gulf Coast Airline, Inc. The service expedited the Central and South America mails, routed via ships docking at Pilottown. 1923, 2 May: Bureau of Engraving and Printing begins the production of the “Bureau” precancels. The first issue precanceled was the 1923 perf. 10 1¢ green Franklin issue, the precancellation being “ New York / N.Y.” betweenntwo bars. 1924, 1 July: first New York-San Francisco night-flying trans-continental airmail route inaugurated, 1925, 1 August: first Rural Free Delivery (R.F.D.) Airmail Star Route services completed by aviator Lt. Robert S. Fogg flying along the shoreline of Lake Winnipesaukee, New Hampshire, 1928, 25 June: first Special Handling postage stamps issued. 1929, 1 May: due to a series of post office robberies in Kansas and Nebraska, stamps from the 1922-1925 issue were overprinted with “ Kans.” or “ Nebr.” for identification purposes, and as a deterrent for further thefts, 1934, 30 August: first Air Post Special Delivery postage stamp issued. 1935, 22 November: first trans-Pacific San Francisco-Manila, Philippines, regular airmail on contracted route inaugurated on U.S. Foreign Air Mail (F.A.M.) Route No. 14 by Pan American Airways Inc., special 25¢ airmail stamp depicting the “China Clipper” issued to pay the postage for this airmail service. 1938: counterfeits of the 3¢ Jefferson stamp exist, perf. 12 or imperforate; genuine is perf. 11 x 10 1/2. 1939, 20 May: first trans-Atlantic New York-Marseilles, France, and Southhampton, England regular airmail on contracted route inaugurated on U.S. Foreign Air Mail (F.A.M.) Route No. 18 by Pan American Airways Inc., special 30¢ airmail stamp depicting a “Winged Globe” issued to pay postage for this airmail service, 1941, 8 December: U.S. declared war with Japan, 1941, 11 December: U.S. declared war with Germany and Italy, 1942, 5 June: U.S. declared war with Bulgaria, Hungary and Rumania, 1945, 1 February: first Postal Note stamps issued. 1949, 1 November: Railroad Mail Service merged with other similar services; the service was discontinued 30 June 1977. 1950: U.S. forces sent to Korea. 1955, 6 June: U.S. Certified Mail postage stamp issued. 1956: counterfeits of the 4¢ Lincoln stamp exist, missing hair lines in the berad and head. 1964: Vietnam War. 1967: counterfeits of the 13¢ Kennedy exist, half-tone screening, rather then engraved as on the genuine stamp. 1970: counterfeits of the 6¢ Eisenhower stamp exist, lithographed, whiter paper with perforations of 10 1/2. 1970: the annual volume of mail grew to seven billion items. 1971, 1 July: United States Postal Service formed as a government-owned corporation. 1971: counterfeits of the 8¢ Eisenhower stamp exist, names on stamp misaligned. 1973: counterfeits of the 10¢ Crossed Flags stamp exist, misaligned horizontal perforations. 1973: counterfeits of the 10¢ Jefferson Memorial stamp exist, smudged appearance. 1975: counterfeits of the 13¢ Liberty Bell stamp exist, perforations on all four sides; genuine were coils. 1984: counterfeits of the 20¢ Truman stamp exist, crudely lithographed and perforated. 1991: counterfeits of the 29¢ Flags on Parade stamp exist, fakes are rouletted, genuine perforated on four sides. 1991, 18 January: military forces in Iraq and Kuwait, 2001, 9 October: military action in Afghanistan leading to Iraq, 2003: committee named to make suggestions re possible reorganization of the USPS, 2005: USPS makes deliveries of 206 billion letters, advertisements, periodicals and packages to 142 million addresses every day to every address in the nation, serves seven million customers each day at its 37,000 retail locations, has annual revenues of more than $69 billion, and delivers more than 46 percent of the world’s mail volume.
United States of Colombia: federation of nine sovereign states in Colombia; 1861-1904: each state could issue its own stamps, 1886: lost their sovereignty but continued to issue stamps until 1904.
United States Offices in China: see China, United States Offices.
United States of Indonesia: see Indonesia.
United States naval covers: cards or envelopes that have been postmarked or mailed from a U.S. Navy ship.
United States Postal Service (USPS): an independent agency of the executive branch, established on July 1, 1971, by the Postal Reorganization Act, when it became successor to the Post Office Department.
United States Proprietary Medicine Co.: inscription on Medicine stamp; see Private die proprietary stamps.
United States Postal Meter Co.: U.S. postage meter firm in 1931-44; acquired by Commercial Controls Corp. in 1944.
United States Postal Service: Postal Reorganization Act of 1970 created the United States Postal Service from the Post Office Department, with a board of governors that selected a postmaster general; started July 1, 1971.
United States Specialist: journal of the United States Stamp Society.
United States Stamp Society: formerly known as the Bureau Issues Association.
United States Virgin Islands: see Virgin Islands.
United States Zone (Germany): 1948: stamps of Germany overprinted with posthorn design, 1949, Sep. 7: stamps of the Federal Republic issued.
Unitrade: Canadian based stamp catalog of Canada and Provinces.
Unit watermark: an arrangement so that a complete design appears on every sheet of paper.
Uniunea Postala Universala: (Rom.) Universal postal Union, U.P.U.
Universal Expres – Pakke Frimk: see Copenhagen – Expres-Compagni Local Post
Universal Mail (UM): New Zealand local post with 170 stamps and 250 different postcards for sale.
Universal Penny Postage: William Hastings 1866 suggestion in a British pamphlet for low postage rates throughout the world.
Universal Postage: inscription on stamps of New Zealand to commemorate for a uniform postal rate for Britain’s empire.
Universal Postal Union (UPU): organization to regulate and standardize international postal usages and rates; 1850: Austro-German Postal union formed for German-speaking postal administrations, 1862, Aug.: US PMG Montgomery Blair suggested an “international concert of action” regarding the international postal scene, 1863, May 11: conference held in Paris, no binding treaties signed, 1868: Heinrich von Stephan, director posts, North German Confederation, wrote “Note on the Universal Postal Congress” to form a postal treaty, 1874, Oct. 9: representatives of 21 countries signed Treaty of the General Postal Union, 1878: formally adopted Universal Postal Union name, 1898: recommended that stamps be blue for letters, red for postcards, and green for printed matter, 1927, Sept.: uniform rates established for mail carried by air, 1947, Nov: became specialized agency of the United Nations, 1952: formally abolished requirement that stamps be blue for letters, red for postcards, and green for printed matter, 1957: issued own stamps courtesy of the Swiss post, “Universal Postal Union” inscription 2003: 190 member countries.
Universal Postal Union: overprint on stamps of Switzerland for League of Nations.
Universal Postal Union 1874-1949: (With King George VI and Crown) Great Britain.
Universal Service: USPS term for delivery and pick up from everywhere in the U. S.
Universal Stamping Machine Company: manufacturer of canceling machines in the 1900s.
University College: issues to commemorate the opening of the University College of the West Indies, 1951.
Unlisted, Unl: unlisted, not in a philatelic catalog..
Unmailable: US marking to indicate seals not permitted on front ofenvelopes, PMG Order 5620; July 1, 1911.
UNMIBH: United Nations Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Denmark, Finland and Sweden, Dec. 1995 – March 1996.
UNMIK: United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo issued stamps for Kosovo March 14, 2001 for internal use only.
UNMOGIP: United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan; Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden; Jan. 24, 1949 to date
UNMOP: United Nations Mission of Observers in Prevlaka, Denmark, Finland and Norway forces, 1996.
UNMOT: United nations Mission of Observers in Tajikistan, Denmark, Dec. 1994.
Unmounted mint: stamps which have never been hinged or mounted.
Unna: city in Germany, local post, 1945-48
Uno: (Rom.) one (number).
UNOC: United Nations Operations in the Congo; Denmark Aug. 1960 – June 1964, Norway July 1960 – March 1964, and Swedish forces, July 1960 – May 1964.
Unofficial: 1: varieties not authorized by the postal authorities. 2: nicht amtlich (Ger.); non officiel (Fr.), non ufficiale (It.), no official (Sp.).
Unofficial cachet: cachet applied by an agency other than the Post Office.
Unofficial cancel: cancel at a different location for the designated new issue site.
Unofficial first day cancel (UO): cancels applied on the first day of issue but not in the first day of issue city.
Unofficial First Day Cover: cover with a stamp affixed canceled on the first day of issue, but not from the city where the stamp was officially released.
Unofficial flight cover: flown without postal authorization
Unofficial perforations: perforations done after issuance of a stamp by a private party, to help separate the stamps such as the Confederate issues and private vending machine coils.
Unofficial reprints: stamps reprinted at a later date from the original plates but not by the original issuing entity.
Unofficial stamps: stamps issued by bus, airline, shipping firms, carriers and freights companies to prepay the charges on their services; may be considered as local or cinderella stamps.
UNOGIL: United Nations Observation Group in Lebanon, Denmark, Finland and Norway forces, June – Dec.1958.
UNOMIG: United nations Observer Mission in Georgia, Denmark and Sweden, Sept. 1993.
UNOMIL: United Nations Observer Mission in Liberia, Swedish forces, Sept. – Nov. 1993.
Únor: (Czech.) February.
UNOSOM I: United Nations Operations in Somalia, Finland Aug. 1992 – March 1993 and Norway forces, Dec.1992 – March 1993.
UNOSOM II: United Nations Operations in Somalia, Norway and Sweden forces, 1993-1995.
UNPA: United Nations Postal Administration.
Unpaid letter stamps: original name for postage due stamps.
Unperforated: term used for a stamp that did not receive perforations, a production error.
UNPF: United Nations Peace Forces, in Zagreb, March 1995 – Jan.1996.
UNPO: Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization; based in the Netherlands.
UNPREDEP: United Nations Preventive Deployment Force, Macedonia, Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden supplied forces from April 1995-Oct. 1995.
Unprinted areas in stamp design: caused by inadequate ink on the plate, cleaning solvent dissipating the ink, foreign matter on the plate, weak spot on the impression roller, etc.
UNPROFOR: United Nations Protection Forces in Yugoslavia Denmark, Norway, and Swedish forces 1992-1995; in Bosnia dn Herzegovina March – Dec. 1995.
Unreserved auction: no hidden reserves or stated reserves selling lots for whatever is offered by the bidders.
Unrestricted: “unrestricted” air mail stamps are valid for any purpose for which a stamp can beused; see Restricted.
Unsevered: a connected pair of strip of stamps.
Unsorted: a mixture or accumulation that has not been inspected to see if anything of value was present.
Unsprezece: (Rom.) eleven (number).
UNTAC: United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia; Norway and Sweden, Feb. 1992-Sept. 1993.
UNTAES: United Nations Transitional Administration for Eastern Slavonia, Baranja and Western Sirmium; Denmark, Finland and Norway forces, Jan. 1996.
UNTAG: United Nations Transition Assistance Group, in Namibia (South West Africa),Denmark, Norway and Sweden, April 1989 – March 1990.
Untagged: a stamp printed without tagging.
UNTAET: United Nations Transitional Administration, East Timor, 2000.
UNTEA: West Irian overprint on stamps of Netherlands New Guinea for United Nations Temporary Executive Authority for West New Guinea,1962.
Unten: (Ger.) bottom, lowest side of anything.
Unterbrochen: (Ger.) broken.
Untergebot: (Ger.) bid under limit.
Unterlegt: (Ger.) repaired.
Unternehmenslogo: (Ger.) (stamp) organizing group logo.
Unterrand: (Ger.) bottom, lowest side.
Unterscheidungszeichen: (Ger.) a good, sound copy.
Unterscheidliche: (Ger.) a sound copy, not good, if used, not too heavily postmarked.
Unterschrift: (Ger.) signature.
Unterseeboot Post: (Ger.) U-Boat Post, March 1945, stamp issued on Hela Peninsula, Danzig, for mail sent via submarine to the unoccupied German ports.
UNTSO: United Nations Truce Supervision Organization for Palestine; the Arab-Israeli conflict, consisting of troops from Denmark 1954, Norway 1956, Finland 1967 and Sweden 1948, all to date.
UNOMOZ: United Nations Operation in Mozambique, Finland May – Nov. 1994, Norway March – Nov. 1994, and Sweden forces Jan. – Dec. 1994.
Unu Safaro unu pastoro: (Esperanto) one flock and one shepherd, motto on labels.
Unused: 1: a stamp in mint condition as purchased from the post office. 2: a stamp that has no gum or is regummed.
Unvollständig: (Ger.) incomplete.
Unwatermarked: stamps printed on paper that has no watermark.
UNYOM: United Nations Yemen Observation Mission, Denmark, Norway and Sweden, July 1963 – Sept. 1964.
UO: Official Envelope; Scott catalog number prefix to identify stamps other than standard postage.
Uofficiel: (Dan.) unofficial, not official.
Uoffisielle: (Dan., Nor.) official.
UOPTO CKPNCOPN: (resembles these letters) Romania-Moldavia.
UP: auction abbreviation for Universal Postal Union.
U.P.A.E.: Union Postal de las Americas y España (Sp.) Postal Union of the Americas and Spain.
Up-charged: UPU term for reclassification of a postal item to a higher cost of service; used with split-back postcards when they first came out; see split-back.
Upchuk, AK: joke precancel on U.S. stamps.
UPHA rOPA: (looks like these letters) Montenegro, Italian Occupation.
UPO: Underwater Post office, opened in Vanuatu, May 2004.
Upotrebená: (Czech.) used (stamp[s]), see Známka postovním razítkem.
Upper Austria: Lower Austria and Germany; 1945: Britain and the U.S. issued Allied Military Government stamps.
Upper Darqali: 1: printed in 1960s by a philatelist who invented country so stamps could be used to illustrate his work on stamp terms. 2: Lazy Natives, Old Leper Colony, Forcados Falls, inscriptions, unissued Great Britain cinderellas by David Horry, 2001.
Upper Laurania: fantasies created by John de Treville with countries taken from Winston Churchill’s book, Savrola.
Upper Senegal and Niger: see Senegal, Upper.
Upper Silesia: see Silesia, Upper.
Upper Slobovia: Wilkinsburg Stamp Club joke souvenir sheets.
Upper Volta: northwestern Africa, north of Ghana, aka Burkino Faso; currency: 100 centimes = 1 franc 1894-1902: used stamps of French Sudan, 1902-04: used stamps of Senegambia and Niger, 1904-20: used stamps of Upper Senegal and Niger, 1919, March 1: French territory of Upper Volta formed from Upper Senegal and Niger, 1920, Dec: No.1, 1 centime brown violet and violet; first stamps were “Haute-Volta” (Upper Volta) overprint on stamps of Upper Senegal and Niger, first postage due stamp, 1933, Jan.1: Upper Volta divided between French Sudan, Ivory Coast, and Niger Territory, 1947: named as an overseas territory of France, used stamps of French West Africa, 1958, Dec. 11: autonomous state as Republic of Upper Volta within the French community, 1959: stamps inscribed “Republique de Haute Volta,” 1960, Aug. 5: became fully independent, 1960, Aug. 11: first issue as autonomous republic, 1961, Mar. 4: first air mail stamp, 1962, Apr. 7: first semipostal stamp, 1963, Feb. 1: first official stamp, 1984, Aug. 4: name changed to Burkino Faso, 1984, Nov. 21: first stamps as Burkino Faso; see Burkino Faso.
Upper Yafa State: Yafa State: Sultanate of South Arabia; 1967: issued own stamps; part of Federation of South Arabia, not listed in Scott; 1967, Dec.: became part of the People’s Democratic Republic of Yemen.
Upside down Jenny: nickname for the 1918 24¢ inverted U. S. airmail.
UPSS: United Postal Stationery Society.
U.P.U.: 1: see Universal Postal Union. 2: common design on stamps of the French Community of Nations, 1949, 1970; British Commonwealth of Nations, 1949.
UR: abbreviation for upper right.
Ural: bogus Russian local overprint.
Urbanos Medellin: inscription of locals of Medellin, Colombia.
Urchin Post: United Kingdom postal strike: local post 1971.
Urdal Local Post: see Tromso – M. Urdal Local Post.
Urdruck: (Ger.) initial printing.
Úredne otevreno devisovou kontrolou: (Czech.) opened by the office for the control of currency, label used to reseal mail after being opened to check enclosure for currency, 1939.
Urgencia: (Sp.) inscription on special delivery stamps of Spain.
Urgente: (Sp.) special delivery.
Urho: (Fin.) local post for use on steamships carrying mail, Finland, 1890s.
U.R.I.: Uprave Ratnih Invalida (Society for Wounded Invalids) overprint on stamps of Yugoslavia, semipostal without official postal value, 1923.
Urplatte: (Ger.) original or first plate.
U.R.S.S.: Unión de Repúblicas Socialistas Soviéticas (Sp.) U.S.S.R. Union of Soviet Socialist Republic.
Urstempel: (Ger.) die; a block of metal that has been hand or machine engraved from which plates are prepared to print stamps.
URU: international postal code for Uruguay.
Uruguay: South America between Brazil and Argentina; official name of postal administration: El Correo currency: 120 centavos = 1 real, 8 reales = 1 peso, 100 centesimos = 1 peso (1859), 1000 milesimos = 1 peso uruguayo (1898) 1830: became independent, 1856, Oct.1: No.1, 60 centavos blue; known as the “Diligencia” issue; carried by diligence or speed via private mail coach, 1859, June 26: general government issue inscribed Montevideo, 1862-72: stamps of Great Britain used at Montevideo, 1864, Apr. 13: inscribed Republica Oriental, 1880, July 1: joined the UPU, 1880: first official stamp issued, 1902: first postage due stamp issued, 1921, Aug.: first special delivery stamp issued, 1921: first air mail stamp issued, overprint “Correo Aereo,” 1922, Jan. 15: first parcel post stamp issued, 1922, June 1: first newspaper stamp issued, 1930, Nov. 13: first semipostal stamp issued, 1936, May 18: set of six late fee stamps issued, 1959, Dec. 29: first air mail semipostal stamps issued, see Alcance y.U.H., Artigas.
Urval: (Swed.) selection.
Urzhum: city in Russia, Zemstvo local post; 1895-1901, see Zemstvo.
US$: dollar, currency unit in USA, British Virgin Islands, Ecuador, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Palau, Timor-Leste, Turks & Caicos Islands, United Nations (N.Y.).
U.S.: abbreviation for United States.
USA: 1. United States of America inscription. 2. international postal code for the United States of America.
U.S.A. Airmail to: United Kingdom postal strike: local post 1971.
USA Armee Czechy: private overprint on stamps of Germany.
Usado: (Sp.) used, a stamp that has been employed for the postal or revenue service for which it was issued.
Usado a Pluma: (Sp.) pen canceled.
Usædvanlig: (Dan.) uncommon, scarce.
USA First Class: 1: love; U. S. non-denominated postage stamp, value 34¢, issued Jan. 19, 2001. 2: Statue of Liberty; U. S. non-denominated postage stamp, value 34¢, issued Dec. 15, 2000.
Usagé: (Fr.) used, a stamp that has been employed for the postal or revenue service for which it was issued.
Usages: ways in which stamps are used; such as first class, air mail, insured, etc.
USA Philatelic: the mail-order stamp catalog of the USPS, free by writing to Fulfillment Services, P.O. Box 219424, Kansas City, MO 64121-9424.
USAPS: U. S. Army Postal Service.
Usato: (It.) used, a stamp that has been employed for the postal or revenue service for which it was issued.
U.S. Automatic Vending Machine Co.: New York, N.Y. manufacturer of stamp vending machines, 1906-12, distinctive perforation.
U.S. Bank Note Co.: contractor for printing U.S. postage stamps, 1989.
U.S.C.E.: Universal Stamp and Cover Exchange.
U.S. Charge to Collect (amount) Cents: marking on mail arriving in the United States from overseas to indicate amount of postage due.
U.S. Christian Commission: established Nov. 1861; volunteers donated stationery and wrote more than 90,000 letters for soldiers, on both sides of the Civil War, who were unable to write for themselves.
U. S. civil censorship: cancel from Munich, Germany used post World War II from displaced persons camps and other facilities.
U.S. Clipper: refers to U. S. airmail flying boat stamps issued in 1935 and 1937.
USCS: Universal Ship Cancellation Society.
Usé: (Fr.) postally used stamp.
Used: 1: a stamp that has been employed for the postal or revenue service for which it was issued. 2: gebraucht (Ger.); oblitéré (Fr.); usato (It.); usado (Sp.).
Used abroad: stamps used outside the issuing country; usually means a stamp posted and cancelled at an office established by a postal administration in a foreign country.
Used on cover: stamps postmarked and saved on the original envelope.
Used on piece: stamp saved on a portion of the original cover to preserve the entire postmark.
Used proofs: proofs which have performed postal duty such as Lithuania’s National Assembly stamps of 1920 used for postage.
Usedvanlig: (Nor.) uncommon, scarce.
U S entires: the complete prestamped envelope.
U.S. Express Mail: circular handstamp applied at steamboat terminals, 1842.
U.S. Express Post: S. Allan Taylor label, 1865.
U.S. French Sea P.O.: marking on U.S.- French service, New York to Le Havre, 1912-17, with one French and one U.S. postal clerk aboard each ship.
U.S. government flight: airmail services conducted under authority of a federal agency in pioneering future commercial airmail route within the U.S.
USGPO: U. S. Government Printing Office.
U.S.I.R.: U.S. Internal Revenue; without periods makes up the watermark used for revenue stamps.
Uskub: (Skopje) overprint on stamps of Turkey for Sultan’s visit to Macedonia.
U.S. Mail: 1: any mailable matter that is accepted for mail processing and delivery by the USPS. 2: 1849-50; see Carriers” Stamps.
US Mail Agency: handstamp used in Vera Cruz, Mexico during occupation, see : Vera Cruz.
US Mail Coach: waybill for stage route with listing of fares, passengers, names and destinations.
U.S. Mail Pre-Paid: New York, N.Y.; see Carriers’.
U.S.M. Co. (Universal Safety Match Co.): inscription on Match stamp; see Private die proprietary stamps.
U.S. Naval Mission to Brazil: postal marking started Dec. 21, 1922 when 35 U.S. naval personnel were sent to Brazil, stamps of Brazil used, 1922-31, 1936-77.
U.S. Overseas Steam mail Packet Service, 1847-1939: The U.S. Congress, 1845, authorized building a mail packet service exclusively with steam ships.
USPCS: United States Philatelic Classics Society.
U.S. Penny Mail: postmark, 1861-63, used by Philadelphia mail carriers for local mail.
U.S. Penny Post: 1849-57, St. Louis; see Carriers” Stamps.
U.S. Pkt: U.S. Packets passing through London to the Continent.
USPMSC: United States Postage Meter Stamp Catalog.
U.S.P.O.: United States Post Office, mid-1800s, New York, N.Y.; see Carriers’.
USPOD: 1: United States Post Office Department, official branch of the government for delivering the mail until 1971, when it became the USPS. 2: watermark on paper used for U.S. Postal Cards, 1873-75.
USPO Despatch: 1851, Nov. 17, several cities, see Carriers’ Stamps.
U.S. Postal Agency, Barranquilla, Col. S.A.: handstamp for agency established 1936 for mail addressed to the West Coast of South America, where mail was then assorted for northern and southern plane service.
U.S. Postal Agency, Shanghai: authorized by Act of Congress, July 27, 1868, abolished Dec. 31, 1922; prior to July 1, 1919, U.S. stamps were used; after that date, the overprint “Shanghai China” was used.
U.S. Postal Agency Tientsen: handstamp used at U.S. Consulate in 1883.
U.S. Postal Savings Certificate of Deposit: receipt for the U.S. Postal Savings program, which ran from 1911 to 1970; depositor would complete a card or booklet of postal savings stamps and receive the certificate. CHECK! U. S. Postal Savings Stamps: issued by the Post Office Department, 1911-61, 10¢ and 25¢ stamps showing Minute Man design to support national effort for World War II.
U.S. Postmasters’ Provisionals: issued in a number of U.S. cities between 1845, when uniform postal rates were established by Congress, and 1847, when U.S. postage stamps were used.
U.S. Proprietary Medicine Co.: inscription on Medicine stamp; see Private die proprietary stamps.
USPS: 1: United States Postal Service, established by the Postal Reorganization Act of July 1, 1971 as an independent, self-supporting federal agency within the Executive Branch. 2: United States Postage Stamp, applied as a watermark on U.S. stamps of 1895-1917. 3: Union of Swiss Philatelic Societies.
USS: 1: The U. S. Specialist. 2: United States Ship, Steamer or Steamship.
USSR: Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.
U.S.S. Revenue & Postage Saurashtra: overprint on stamps of Soruth for United State of Saurashtra, see Soruth.
USSS: United States Stamp Society, formerly the Bureau Issues Association.
U. States Letter Express: local post, unknown origin.
U.S.T.C.: United State of Travancore-Cochin, India 1949.
Ustiuzhna: city in Russia, Zemstvo local post; 1889-97, see Zemstvo.
Ústrizek Pruvodky: (Czech.) parcel clipping.
Ustsysolsk: city in Russia, Zemstvo local post; 1872-1916, see Zemstvo.
U. S. War Savings Certificate Stamp: issued by the Treasury Department, 1917-20.
U.S. Zone (Germany): 1948: stamps of Germany overprinted with posthorn design for use in U.S. and British zones.
UT: USPS abbreviation for Utah.
Utah: 1: became a U.S. territory Sept. 9, 1850, state Jan. 4, 1896; ceded from Mexico Feb. 2, 1848. 2: also known as Mormon Stamps, supposedly issued by Brigham Young in 1853, but printed in 1864.
Utah postage: bogus Mormon label, 1852, pictured Brigham Young.
Utakket: (Dan., Nor.) imperforated.
Utan: (Swed.) without.
Utan gummering: (Swed.) unused, without gum, see Ostämplat utan gummering.
Utca: (Hung.) street.
Uten gummi: (Nor.) unused, no gum.
Utenlandsk: (Nor.) foreign.
Uten punkt: (Nor.) without period, without stop.
Útery: (Czech.) Tuesday.
Utflutet tryck: (Swed.) blurred print.
Utgåva: (Swed.) issue.
Utgave: (Nor.) issue.
Utica Express Co.: fake local label from the 1870s.
Utiel: city in Spain, Spanish Civil War local post, Republican forces, 1937.
Utilisé pour la poste: (Fr.) postally used.
Utrera: city in Spain, Spanish Civil War local post, Republican forces, 1937.
Utropstecknet: (Swed.) exclamation mark.
Utstilling: (Nor.) exhibition.
UV: Ultraviolet light; see Ultraviolet.
Uvea: see Wallis and Futuna Islands.
Uw.: abbreviation for unwatermarked.
UX: Postal Card. Scott catalog number prefix to identify stamps other than standard postage.
UXC: Scott Catalog number prefix for Air Post Postal Card.
UY: Scott Catalog number prefix for Reply Postal Card.
UZ: Scott Catalog number prefix for Official Postal Card.
Uzbekistan: Central Asia, north of Afghanistan; Official name of postal administration: Post of Uzbekisan. currency: 100 kopecks = 1 ruble, 100 tiyin = 1 sum. 1924: Socialist republic established, 1991, Dec. 26: joined with ten other former Soviet states to form the Commonwealth of Independent States, 1992, May 7: No.1, 20 kopecks multicolor, first stamp issued, 1994, Feb. 24: joined the UPU.
Území: (Czech.) territory.
Uzhgorod: city in Ukraine, local overprint,1993.