Weekly Definitions (K - O)

I've missed a week or two, so I'll give a couple of extra.

1. Keytype: A basic stamp design utilized for the issues of two or more postal entities, usually differing in the country name and inscription of value. Many of the earlier colonial issues of Britain, France, Spain, Germany and Portugal are keytypes.

2. Line Pair: A pair of coil stamps with a printed line between them. Stamps produced on a flatbed press have a line from the guideline between panes. Stamps produced on a rotary press have a joint line from the space where ink collects between the sections of curved rotary plates.

3. Marcophily: Postmark collecting.

4. Nondenominated: A stamp with no numerical inscription designating the face value. The value of some nondenominated stamps are marked by a designated letter. Others may have a service inscription that indicates the rate the stamp fulfills.

5. Obsolete: A stamp no longer available from post offices, although possibly still postally valid.

1-A Kansas City roulettes: Dec. 1914; Kansas City, Mo. post office received imperforate 1¢ and 2¢ stamps in the Washington Head design; the Kansas City postmaster received permission to roulette the stamps and sell them.

Shame on you Laswabbie for ignoring us for a week or two. Keep them coming, we all learn something from your definitions.

Yes, Laswabbie! Keep 'em coming! We love to learn!

Gussyboy1

Keytype... a further discussion

In the British Commonwealth stamps, where there is a same design, but different value and country, typically the keytype is called the KEYPLATE. Sometimes called the HEADPLATE, if it shows the head of the monarch. This is especially true of the De La Rue definitives of the QV to KGVI reigns of the same design.

The portion which changes, namely the value and the country, is called the DUTYPLATE.

Keep up the good work sailor!

David

Very interesting addition David. Thank you!

Seems the old head-on-a-plate had a different meaning among some monarchs, going back to King Herod.