"B" Terms
Learn to talk like a stamp pro with over 200 philatelic terms at your fingertips!
Backprint
Any printing on the backside or adhesive side of a stamp.
Any printing on the backside or adhesive side of a stamp.
Bishop Mark
The first dated postmark of Great Britain, started in 1661 by Henry Bishop.
The first dated postmark of Great Britain, started in 1661 by Henry Bishop.
Blued Paper
Paper which has a faint blue tint caused during manufacturing.
Paper which has a faint blue tint caused during manufacturing.
Block
Four or more stamps joined together in either a square or rectangle.
Four or more stamps joined together in either a square or rectangle.
Booklet Pane
A block of stamps that originally formed a page in a booklet.
A block of stamps that originally formed a page in a booklet.
Border
The outer edge of a stamp, usually left white during printing.
The outer edge of a stamp, usually left white during printing.
Bourse
A meeting of collectors and dealers where stamps are bought and sold.
A meeting of collectors and dealers where stamps are bought and sold.
Branding
Holes punched in stamps that form letters. Branding is used both as a means of advertising and as a theft prevention.
Holes punched in stamps that form letters. Branding is used both as a means of advertising and as a theft prevention.
Broken Set
A group of stamps in a series that do not contain all of the issues for that series.
A group of stamps in a series that do not contain all of the issues for that series.
Bull's Eye
A stamp with a perfectly centered easily read postmark.
A stamp with a perfectly centered easily read postmark.
Bureau Prints
Stamps printed and canceled at the U.S. Bureau of Engraving and Printing in Washington, D.C.
Stamps printed and canceled at the U.S. Bureau of Engraving and Printing in Washington, D.C.
Burelage
Fine dots or lines on a stamp that discourage counterfeiting.
Fine dots or lines on a stamp that discourage counterfeiting.
Bisect
A stamp that is cut in half with each half having the half the value of the original denomination. For example, a twenty-six cent stamp bisect would have the value of thirteen cents.
A stamp that is cut in half with each half having the half the value of the original denomination. For example, a twenty-six cent stamp bisect would have the value of thirteen cents.
Bank Note Issues
Stamps printed in 1870-1887 by the American Bank Note Company, the Continental Bank Note Company, and the National Bank Note Company.
Stamps printed in 1870-1887 by the American Bank Note Company, the Continental Bank Note Company, and the National Bank Note Company.
Bicolor
A stamp printed in two colors.
A stamp printed in two colors.
Backstamp
An ink mark on the back of an envelope that tells the date of arrival, location, and often time of receipt at the destination post office.
An ink mark on the back of an envelope that tells the date of arrival, location, and often time of receipt at the destination post office.
Bank Mixture
A mixed batch of stamps collected from the mail of banks and other financial institutuions.
A mixed batch of stamps collected from the mail of banks and other financial institutuions.
Bicentennial
The 200th anniversary of a person, place, thing, or event or the celebration thereof.
The 200th anniversary of a person, place, thing, or event or the celebration thereof.
Bantams
Miniature stamps, such as, the war-tax issues from South Africa.
Miniature stamps, such as, the war-tax issues from South Africa.
Bars
Lines printed on stamps to indicate that they are invalid or to hide various details in overprinting, such as, the denomination.
Lines printed on stamps to indicate that they are invalid or to hide various details in overprinting, such as, the denomination.
Bilingual
A stamp printed in two languages.
A stamp printed in two languages.
Bilingual Pair
Two stamps joined together that are identical in every way, except each is printed with a different language.
Two stamps joined together that are identical in every way, except each is printed with a different language.
Booklets
Small books of stamps often sold in vending machines.
Small books of stamps often sold in vending machines.
Back of the Book
Postal Items listed in the back of stamp catalogs, postage dues and revenues are such examples.
Postal Items listed in the back of stamp catalogs, postage dues and revenues are such examples.
Bogus Stamps
Fake counterfeit stamps from real or imaginary countries.
Fake counterfeit stamps from real or imaginary countries.
Burr
A raised area of metal on the engraving plate that becomes a flaw on a printed stamp sheet.
A raised area of metal on the engraving plate that becomes a flaw on a printed stamp sheet.