Cachet:

• A special instruction or message printd on an envelope

Cancel/Cancellation:

• Postmark on a stamp which shows it has been used for postage

Cancelled To Order:

• in short CTO.
• Stamps which are specially cancelle for collectors, with very neat clean postmarks. Often, they are not sent through the post in the ordinary way or even struck onto envelopes.
• CTO stamps may still have gum on the back.

CDS:

• Abbreviation for ” circular datestamp”

Chalk-Surfaced:

• A chalky coating put onto stamp paper. The stamps look shiny because in time the chalk “polishes” the surface. Chalk-surfaced stamps also have watermarks which are difficult to see

Classic:

• Early stamps issued up to about 1900 which are either rare or beautifully designed and printed.

Cliche:

• Individual “stamp”(or other) part of a printing plate. Usually refers to stamps printed by letterpress

Coil:

• A stamp for a roll of stamps dispensed by automatic stamp vending(selling) machines

Color Trial:

• Test of a stamp design, printed in different colors to find out which are the best to use. Color trials are types of proofs

Commemorative:

• Stamp or set for events like anniversaries and other special occassions.

Controls:

• Letters and numbers printed in the margins of sheets of stamps to make it easier for the printer to check the stamps have been correctly printed.

Corner Block:

Block of stamps taken from the top or botto corners of a sheet of stamps. The sheet margin is still attached to the block.

Counterfeit:

• See Forgery

Comb Perforation:

• Create by a perforating machine which has perforating pins arranged like a comb

Cover:

• An envelope or wrapper used in the post.

CWO:

• Cash with order, that is sending payment for stamps when you order them.

Cylinder Number:

• Number printed in the margins of sheets of stamps to show which printing cylinder has been used.

Backstamp:

• Postmark applied to a postal item’s back.

Billingual:

• Stamps inscribed or printed in two languages. French and Flemish, for example, are used on stamps of Belgium, where both are spoken.

Bisect:

• A stamp cut in half, usually diagonally(on a slant) across the stamp.Used on an envelope, a bisect has half the value of the complete stamp. Bisects have been used where there is a shortage of low value stamps

Block:

• More than four stamps joined together in a square or oblong shape.

Bogus Stamp:

• A pretend stamp, for instance from a countrythat does not exist. Made to cheat collectors.

Booklet Pane:

• Small stiff-covered book of stamps in pane (like a block) sewn together on the left-hand side. Stamp panes may alternate with other panes showing post offce and other advertisements.

Adhesive:

• A postage stamp issued after 1840 where the stamp has adhesive(gum) on its bac for sticking it onto envelopes

Aerogramme:

• Special letter made for sending by air. Made of light paper which can be foldd and sealed by gummed tabs.

Airmail:

• Sending mail by air.

Aniline:

• A “fugitive” ink that will run if soaked in water. Used to stop people using stamps twice. Aniline ink shows its color through the back of the stamp.

Approvals:

•  Stamps in small books or on card sent by dealers in the post. These are sent ” on approval” which means collectors choose the stamps they want to buy and return the rest with their payment.