Precancelled Stamps: Separate the Mark from the Mailing History
Learn why a precancel is not a synonym for CTO. Separate identification of the mark from evidence that the particular collectible travelled by post.
Category: Stamp Collecting Guides
International Reply Coupons: Separate Collecting from the 2026 Service Transition
Check the UPU’s 31 December 2026 IRC transition separately from the identity, collecting purpose and operator eligibility of any offered item.
Maximum Cards: Review the Picture, Stamp and Postmark Together
Review a proposed maximum card as a complete object: picture-side stamp, subject connection and readable cancellation, not just matching imagery.
Joint Stamp Issues: Verify the Partnership and Offered Countries
Distinguish an official joint issue from a shared theme, then identify which countries and individual items are actually included in an offer.
Stamp Repair Disclosures: Decide What Your Collection Accepts
An attractive front does not resolve a disclosed repair. Keep the condition wording intact and decide whether repaired material fits your collecting brief.
Self-Adhesive Stamp Singles: Specify the Supplied Backing
Buying a self-adhesive single for a collection? Specify the backing that must stay with it and review the offered format before approving separation.
Stamp Colour Names: Compare References, Not Screen Matches
A colour name and a screen image answer different questions. Compare stamp shade descriptions by reference and keep unresolved identification explicit.
Stamp Essays and Proofs: Clarify the Production Stage
An essay or proof is not automatically an issued stamp. Clarify the claimed development stage, supporting reference and your collecting scope.
Cancelled to Order vs Postally Used: Define Your Requirement
A cancellation does not settle whether a stamp traveled through the post. Decide whether CTO material meets your collecting brief before comparing offers.
Perfin Initials: Check the Pattern Before Naming a Company
Matching initials do not establish who used a perfin. Learn how to distinguish a visible hole pattern from a supported company attribution.