Basics in Philately #1: What Are Stamps?

When walking out of a grocery store promptly after paying at the cashier, a receipt is issued to indicate (and prove, if need be) that we have purchased the items. Similarly, stamps are essentially small pieces of paper affixed onto mails to indicate that we have paid for the postage. 

Stamp affixed to upper right corner of an envelope with a date stamp. Date stamps are postmarks that indicate the stamp has been used or cancelled. This step is necessary, else, a single stamp could be used again and again - that's not good for the economy.

However, the term stamp is an umbrella of many categories. Reiterating the definition, stamps can therefore be divided into subcategories depending the nature of its use. Likewise, they are printed differently indicating its purpose. Say, when a parcel is posted but is paid insufficiently for postage, the post office would affix postage due stamps in which the recipient would have to bear the additional charges to collect the mail. 

The four general sub-categories of stamp according to nature of its use


A. Postage stamp

Postage stamp issued throughout Malaysia; all states are represented individually with different state emblems/ coat of arms while some with an additional portrait of state rulers. 

Postage stamps are used in postal services; affixed on envelopes or parcels in which rates are according to the weight of the parcel. Postage stamps are also used on postcards

B. Postage due stamp

A cut-out showing Malaysia postage due stamps affixed. 

Postage due stamps are attached to mails by the post office when they are sent with insufficient postage, which the recipient of the mail should bear the postage due. Unpaid postage due mails will either be returned to the sender, or considered to be a dead mail.

C. Revenue stamp


Notice that on the stamp it was stated 'Postage & Revenue'. This meant that it could either be used for postage or revenue purposes.

Revenue stamps were issued to collect fees or taxes on documents, therefore once used revenue stamps are not regarded as postal used, instead they are termed as fiscally used

D. Semi-postal stamp

A semi-postal stamp from Finland to raise funds for the Anti-Tuberculosis Society. The double-barred cross is a universal sign of efforts against Tuberculosis. The stamp denomination for semi-postal stamps are rather unique since it has two values with the latter as the amount contributed towards the said effort.

Semi-postal stamps are issued as postage stamps but usually printed with an additional value that indicates the amount contributed, which may be for medical purposes against certain diseases such as Tuberculosis or Malaria, or to fund war efforts (done in the past, often overprinted with surcharges). Semi-postal stamps were also issued in the past for the purpose of aiding public welfare such as those introduced in Greece from the bombardment of Piraeus.

As a reminder, I have only listed four categories of stamps but bear in mind that there are much more than just four. In later posts, I will cover on miscellaneous categories including air mail stamps, special post stamps (for bicycle mail, motor mail), train mail stamps, telegraph stamps, and many more. 

Well, the topics I cover are solely determined by the ones I have. Let's just hope that I get to find more in the near future. 


Note on stamps:

1. (Stamp on envelope) Malaysia 2017 ISC MC531 80sen multicolored - Orchids Vanda helvola
Perforation: 14

2. Sabah 1979 ISC 409 1 sen multicolored - Flowers (Definitive Series) Rafflesia hasseltii 
Wmk. POS
Perforation: 14.5

3. Malaysia 1986 ISC D20 10sen black & olive-grey 
    Malaysia 1986 ISC D21 20sen vermillion & cinnamon
    Malaysia 1986 ISC D22 50sen deep turquoise-green & turquoise-green
No wmk.
Perforation: 12 x 11.5

4. North Borneo 1909-1922 Scott 140/ ISC 144 4 cent scarlet - Meeting of the Assembly
No wmk. 
Perforation: 14

5. Finland 1976 Scott B209 80p + 20p multicolored - Bride, groom, matron and pastor at wedding dinner. 
No wmk.
Perforation: 13
    

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Bar Cancels of Labuan: Part 1

Image
Labuan is an island off the coasts of Sabah (then, known as North Borneo). Though small in size, it is in fact the first (earlier than North Borneo and Sarawak) to have a proper post office in the mid 1800s.  Labuan joined the Universal Postal Union on 16 April 1877 while British North Borneo joined on 1 January 1891. Concurrently, upon joining the Universal Postal Union, Labuan also adopted the postage rates of Straits Settlements as well as stamps of Straits Settlements by purchasing it from Singapore until it issued its own in 1879.  The postage stamps, prior to datestamps, were cancelled with dumb-type obliterators such that was used in Straits Settlements. The first two obliterators are round dumb-types while the third, which is also the last before the usage of datestamps, is a 9-bar obliterator.  I have not been the biggest fan of bar cancels prior to recent years since they are challenging to identify, especially for a beginner like me. It became easier now with a reference boo
Read more

Train Mail postmarks of North Borneo (1)

Image
Train mail postmark is another interesting area in marcophily (a fancy word that describes collecting and the study of postmarks).  When I first learnt about train mails, it became so much more interesting because who knew letters could be posted on trains, and ships even! (that's for another day).  Letters posted on trains were subjected to ordinary postal rates.  Here's what I have in my collection so far: Proud D6 'TRAIN MAil' on ISC270 Proud D6 'train MAIL' on ISC270, with a discolored center probably light bleached.  Proud D6 Another D6. Would be a really stunning bullseye if the bottom part of the postmark was struck clearer.  Proud D6 Proud D5 on ISC242. Other than the larger gap between 'NORTH BORNEO', T of 'NORTH' was also seen to be shorter lengthwise.  Proud D8 'rAILWAY p.o.' on ISC358. I remembered paying RM6 for this piece 5 years ago.  In this never-ending quest to find, collect, and learn more, I hope to be able to own a fe
Read more

Identifying Paper Types of the B.M.A Malaya Overprint: Substitute, Chalk, and Thin Striated Paper

Image
Initially, chalk paper was the default paper type introduced as means to combat the re-use of stamps. The chalky coating used enabled ink, conveniently both the prints and postal markings, to adhere better to which re-use of stamps via removal of the cancellation would damage the stamp design. Due to war-time shortages during and after World War II, chalk paper was replaced by what is known as ‘ordinary paper’ as a substitute (hence, it was also known as substitute paper). Generally, this BMA Malaya series was seen in three paper types: a. Substitute paper / Ordinary paper b. Thin striated paper c. Chalk paper  The quickest way in identifying paper types, specifically in distinguishing between ordinary paper and chalk paper is by the silver scratch test. Upon scratching the surface of a chalk-coated paper with silver, a faint dull grey line will appear. This technique was mentioned in Stanley Gibbons' catalogue. However, it was also discredited since scratching the surface of the s
Read more