Fun with Stamps Part 2.

FUN WITH STAMPS

Part 2

The A to Z of Stamp Collecting Showing that the hobby can be fun.

Gutter to Lettercard

by Ron Shanahan

G is for Gutter

Gutter is the term applied to the 'blank' row between panes of stamps At one time 'gutter pairs', that is a pair of stamps with the gutter between left intact, were a very popular type of collection.
Filling the gutters was a good ploy to 'encourage' collectors to buy two stamps rather than one — or even better the complete gutter strip with stamps on each side.

This could be achieved by filling the whole gutter with such things as 'logos' or 'crests' associated with the stamps — anything to earn an 'honest'? buck.

Gutter pair from Christmas Island showing the numbers of the cylinders used and colour bars for each colour used in the printing.

H is for Hidden dates

In some countries, dates are printed on the stamp in very small figures, usually very hard to see with the naked eye.
Could be useful if someone tries to fake a cancellation or cover and the datestamp is before the date of the stamp.
Would anyone be that silly? Could be!.
In Australia when the 'Birds' series of Pre Stamped Envelopes were released in 1978, the FDI cancelled set were much dearer than the mint equivalent.
Some sets are around with the First Day of Issue cancel on the second and third printings which were not released till later and therefore could not have been datestamped at the correct time.
Checked your copies?

Australia 45c stamp

from the 'Greetings — Romance'

booklet with the hidden date

1999 on the rose leaf.

I is for Imperforate

Imperforate, or without perforations etc.

The original penny black stamps were all imperforate and had to be cut with scissors before sale which is why there is a 'premium' on good four margined copies. Clerks were too busy to be precise in their cutting and very often cut well into the design of the stamp.

Stamps are still printed imperforate (very often in addition to normal — to help extract money from collectors) but when a stamp should be perforated but is not, due to production failure then they are usually quite valuable

A case in point is the Great Britain 1998 Princess Diana 26p se-tenant strip of 5 which is currently being advertised for sale at UKPounds 12,000 per imperforate strip! What a find for 'a member of the public in the West Country'!

The 18c Aviators imperf. shown are from the miniature sheet (deliberately imperforate) issued to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of first Trans-Pacific flight 1928-1978

J is for Join

Joins in paper occur on coil stamps, either because of the way they are produced — ie. taken from sheet printings and joined by the selvedge of each row, or for repairs when a coil is accidently broken.

Could also mean "Join your local stamp club!"

This is a good idea for any new collectors. It is the easiest way to get 'with' philatelic terms, to pick up tips on what and how to collect, add to your own collection and dispose of your duplicates

"Join a club, read stamp magazines and check your library for stamp related books".

Coil join on a strip of Great Britain Wilding Graphite Lined issue.

The graphite line is covered by the selvedge of the next row of stamps affixed.

K is for Kermode

"Are you sitting comfortably?"

No! — Not what it sounds like, (fortunately)

'Kermode' is a type of coil roll produced by Harrison & Sons Ltd. Contractors, of London.

According to Langston and Corless, the first Kermode machines are believed to have been installed at the House of Commons B.O. and Threadneedle St B.O. in the early part of 1907.

The use of the machine was confined to London for a considerable time, but on 21st and 22nd March 1923, machines were installed in the High St. and Exchange Branch Offices in Birmingham.

From then on installation of the machines spread throughout the country till now it has become one of the most commonplace in existence.

With the extension of the use of this machine the name 'Kermode' was dropped and it is known today as the Post Office Vending Machine.

"These things are too hard to find to have a 'Kermodious' collection"

L is for Lettercard

Lettercards have been in use since Victorian times and have been adopted as a convenient means of corresponding by many countries In effect a folded 'letter sheet' with gummed edges, the message is written on the inside, the edges sealed and it's then ready for addressing and posting.
Australia Post even issued an unstamped 'letter card' and these were made available on a "Free -please take one" basis on Post Offices Counters. Very convenient for anyone wishing to drop a quick note without having to worry about envelope and paper. The one illustrated has a frama label affixed and cancelled.

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