"C" Terms
Learn to talk like a stamp pro with over 200 philatelic terms at your fingertips!
Cachet
A design on an envelope which relates to the occasion for the mailing of the envelope. A first day of issue stamp is one such example.
A design on an envelope which relates to the occasion for the mailing of the envelope. A first day of issue stamp is one such example.
Canceled to Order
A stamp that is canceled and was not used for postal matter.
A stamp that is canceled and was not used for postal matter.
Cancellation
The ink mark, hole punches, cuts, and other marks that indicated a stamp has been used for postage.
The ink mark, hole punches, cuts, and other marks that indicated a stamp has been used for postage.
Cape Triangulars
Triangular shaped Cape of Good Hope stamps.
Triangular shaped Cape of Good Hope stamps.
Carlist Stamps
Stamps issued by certain Spanish provinces during the reign of Don Carlos VII from 1873-1874.
Stamps issued by certain Spanish provinces during the reign of Don Carlos VII from 1873-1874.
Carrier's Stamps
The stamps used from 1851-1863 to pay delivery fees from post office to home or home to home.
The stamps used from 1851-1863 to pay delivery fees from post office to home or home to home.
Catalog Number
An identification number assigned by the catalog publisher for each individual stamp of a particular country. The standard numbering system used by collectors comes from the Scott Catalogue, often written as Scott #....
An identification number assigned by the catalog publisher for each individual stamp of a particular country. The standard numbering system used by collectors comes from the Scott Catalogue, often written as Scott #....
Catalog Value
The price of a particular stamp assigned by the publishing company. Catalog Values are usually based on current market prices.
The price of a particular stamp assigned by the publishing company. Catalog Values are usually based on current market prices.
Catalog
A listing of stamps, stamp variations, conditions, and market prices.
A listing of stamps, stamp variations, conditions, and market prices.
Catapult Mail
Letters carried by planes that were catapulted from ship decks, miles from land.
Letters carried by planes that were catapulted from ship decks, miles from land.
Centenary
One-hundredth anniversary of a person, place, thing, or event.
One-hundredth anniversary of a person, place, thing, or event.
Center Line Blocks
Blocks of stamps with intersecting horizontal and vertical center lines.
Blocks of stamps with intersecting horizontal and vertical center lines.
Centering
The location of the stamp design relative to its borders.
The location of the stamp design relative to its borders.
Certified Mail
First class mail, in which, the sender is given a receipt stating the item was mailed.
First class mail, in which, the sender is given a receipt stating the item was mailed.
Chalky Paper
Chalk-coated paper used to prevent the removing of cancels. Sometimes chalky paper is used in countries of high humidity to prevent stamps from sticking together.
Chalk-coated paper used to prevent the removing of cancels. Sometimes chalky paper is used in countries of high humidity to prevent stamps from sticking together.
Chalon Heads
Portrait, designed by Andre Chalon, of Queen Victoria found on the first stamps of New Zealand.
Portrait, designed by Andre Chalon, of Queen Victoria found on the first stamps of New Zealand.
Charity Stamps
Stamps printed with a surcharge whose proceeds go to a certain charity.
Stamps printed with a surcharge whose proceeds go to a certain charity.
Chop
Characters written or printed on stamps of countries occupied by Japan during World War II.
Characters written or printed on stamps of countries occupied by Japan during World War II.
Classic
An early issued stamp of high reputation and popularity in the philatelic world.
An early issued stamp of high reputation and popularity in the philatelic world.
Cleaned
A stamp that has had its cancellation removed, to either be reused, or to be wrongly sold as an unused issue.
A stamp that has had its cancellation removed, to either be reused, or to be wrongly sold as an unused issue.
Coarse Perforation
A perforation with large holes and teeth that are far apart.
A perforation with large holes and teeth that are far apart.
Coil Line Pair
A pair of coil stamps with a colored line, formed during printing, between the two stamps.
A pair of coil stamps with a colored line, formed during printing, between the two stamps.
Coils
Stamps issued in long rolled strips with straight edges on two opposite sides and perforations on the others.
Stamps issued in long rolled strips with straight edges on two opposite sides and perforations on the others.
Color Changeling
A stamp whose color has been altered.
A stamp whose color has been altered.
Column
A vertical row of stamps from a sheet.
A vertical row of stamps from a sheet.
Comb Perforation
A perforation made by a machine that punches holes on three sides of a stamp the same time.
A perforation made by a machine that punches holes on three sides of a stamp the same time.
Combination Cover
A cover with stamps from two different countries. The first stamp pays for postage from the country of origin, the second for postage in the destination.
A cover with stamps from two different countries. The first stamp pays for postage from the country of origin, the second for postage in the destination.
Commemorative Stamp
A stamp issued in honor of an event or person.
A stamp issued in honor of an event or person.
Complete Set
A group of stamps that includes all of those issued in a series.
A group of stamps that includes all of those issued in a series.
Composite Sheet
A sheet of stamps with different denominations or designs.
A sheet of stamps with different denominations or designs.
Compound Perforations
A stamp that has two perforation measurements.
A stamp that has two perforation measurements.
Condition
A stamp's characteristics and quality based on centering, perforations, cancellations, and gum.
A stamp's characteristics and quality based on centering, perforations, cancellations, and gum.
Condominium Stamps
Stamps issued by a territory ruled by two or more powers.
Stamps issued by a territory ruled by two or more powers.
Constant
A minor variety that appears in the same location on multiple printings of a stamp.
A minor variety that appears in the same location on multiple printings of a stamp.
Control Mark
A letter or number printed on a stamp or in its margin for accounting purposes.
A letter or number printed on a stamp or in its margin for accounting purposes.
Copyright Block
A block of stamps with the copyright date printed in its margins. The U.S. Postal Service started printing copyright dates on stamp sheets in 1978.
A block of stamps with the copyright date printed in its margins. The U.S. Postal Service started printing copyright dates on stamp sheets in 1978.
Corner Block
A block of stamps with sheet margins on two adjacent sides.
A block of stamps with sheet margins on two adjacent sides.
Counterfeit
A fake postage stamp made with the intention of deceit.
A fake postage stamp made with the intention of deceit.
Counterfoil
A stamp intended to be kept by the sender as a receipt. Counterfoils are printed as pairs, with the adjoining stamp meant to be afixed to the postal matter.
A stamp intended to be kept by the sender as a receipt. Counterfoils are printed as pairs, with the adjoining stamp meant to be afixed to the postal matter.
Coupon
A label or tag attached to a stamp that is not valid postage.
A label or tag attached to a stamp that is not valid postage.
Cover
A complete envelope or postal card with stamp and cancellation.
A complete envelope or postal card with stamp and cancellation.
Crash Cover
A cover that has been saved from a wreck and has been delivered with an official notice of delay.
A cover that has been saved from a wreck and has been delivered with an official notice of delay.
Crease
A line or mark caused by folding a stamp.
A line or mark caused by folding a stamp.
Current
Stamps presently available at the post office.
Stamps presently available at the post office.
Cut Cancellation
A cancellation that cuts through a stamp.
A cancellation that cuts through a stamp.
Cut Close
A stamp with one or more edges close to the design creating an uneven margin.
A stamp with one or more edges close to the design creating an uneven margin.
Cut Square
An imprinted stamp from an envelope, postcard, wrapper, lettersheet, or letter card, that has been cut out in the shape of a square.
An imprinted stamp from an envelope, postcard, wrapper, lettersheet, or letter card, that has been cut out in the shape of a square.