Gutter labels Gutter pairs are a set of two stamps connected by a central label with or without printing on the label. The central label that separates panes of stamps is not itself valid for postage, but labels with "traffic lights" and other markings are often highly sought by collectors. Gutter pairs or gutter blocks must contain complete stamps on both sides of the gutter, with or without perforations. Lithography (Litho) A common method of printing stamps and cachets in which the design is transferred from a smooth plate by selective inks which wet only the design portion of the printing plate. Miniature sheet (MS) A miniature sheet contains an individual stamp as an addition to a set or the actual stamps from a set. In both cases the sheet will feature a unique design and is an integral part of a stamp issue and as thus they are very popular. Presentation Pack (Pack) All issues are made available in a presentation pack, which is a specially designed flap pack that holds a mount for the stamps or miniature sheet presented inside a plastic sleeve. They provide information on the subject of the issue as well as technical details. Postmark Any mark cancelling the stamp and recording an item's passage through the mail system. Commemorative stamp postmarks are individually designed and include the date of the first day of issue. Set Stamps sharing common design elements, often issued at one time and usually collected as a group. (Back) (Next page)
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