Among the most common and treacherous fakes of early 20th century stamps that I come across is imperforate issues being perforated the resemble scarce coil stamps. I was once told by an expert for one of the...
The new plate block collector should buy a copy of the “Scott Specialized Catalogue of United States Stamps and Covers” to become familiar with the correct collectible configuration of plate number blocks.The...
As a young man I learned how to identify sheet varieties by the appearance of the perforations alone. Perforations of course, are the holes punched between postage stamps to make separation easy. I found...
COLLECTING SE TENANTS This is a brief guide to se tenants for stamp collectors. Se tenant has a French origin and means literally holding one another . Be sure to check the tip below about collecting se...
The most common question that I get asked is how to distinguish color varieties of US stamps. Over the next few months I hope to be able to put together some pretty comprehensive color charts of United States...
I have found Collector's place a premium on Mint Stamps in the 4-Block configuration. The ' with Tags' describes the intact sheet number or edge of a block of 4 or more Stamps.
Here are a FEW of the common short-hand that I found helpful as I continue to learn about Stamp Collecting: MNH = Mint Never Hinged Mint = Original Gum, Unused Stamp in near perfect New condition. Hinged =...
I notice many people selling stamps show a lack of understanding or misuse of philatelic terms. For example, I have seen stamps that are nothing more than badly centered uncollectable specimens offered as...
ADVICE ABOUT BUYING PLATE BLOCKS, especially in on-line auction, where you cannot hold the items and peruse them......1) NEVER buy a modern (anything after 1930) "PREVIOUSLY HINGED" United States Plate Block;...
Canada Plate Block Nomenclature Canadian plate blocks are a very popular field of philately. In stamps issued from about 1900 to 1970, there are many plate numbers and orientations. This is a simple guide to...