Another Dumb Question From Tina

ok ok ok I know im going to hear about this one,but thats ok i'll deserve it cause I should know this and im not at home where I can save face and look it up meself but I want to know asap so here goes what exactly is a tab? is it like sleevage? HELP

Hi Tina,

A tab differs from selvedge in that it has something printed on it. Selvedge is a term used for the margin of the paper, sometimes left attached to a stamp that was at the edge of the sheet, or blocks with the margin still attached.

Sometimes there is decorative printing on the margin, and sometimes a tab is incorporated into the design of the sheet. Londonbus can tell you all about the Israel stamps with tabs.

Here's an Australian example:



You can see that this booklet pane has a tab with an advertising slogan printed on it. A booklet pane that gets broken up will usually have the tab left attached to the stamp beside it, and these will be sold as the stamp with tab.

Hope this helps.

Balf

Balf is exactly right. Here is an example of an Israeli issue with tabs.

Hi Tina..your questions are never dumb..nor are any questions dumb....suppressing one's curiosity and remaining silent about it is dumb

There was a great thread from DJD started in July which touched on Gutters,Selvedges and Tabs. Other threads about Selvedges by Carol Owens and Devlin since then have made this one of the most popular topics of 2009.

Tina,
Not a dumb question at all. All questions are valid and accepted. We are all here to learn and the only way is to ask questions. But what a wonderful question !
First, philatelic terminology varies from place to place. Even spellings vary, just look at the differences in spelling by the English and the Americans !
Balf showed a scan of a Booklet pane from Oz. According to Balf, or maybe even all Aussies, the left 'stamp' on the top row is a Tab, but to me it is an Advertising label. Booklets from GB have similar such labels. Just one example of Variable terminology.

So what is a Tab?
Laswabbie showed a scan of an Israeli issue with Tabs, but to me they were Short Tabs, [or part tabs]. [Terminology].
I can show you this way;
Laswabbies scan...



My scan of the same 1959 issue with Full tabs......



You can see the difference, and the difference is the Selvedge [or selvage...2 different spellings, same meaning !].

Stamps without Selvedge = Short or part Tabs
Stamps with Selvedge = Full Tabs.

Of course for other countries this may not apply, I am talking about Israel stamps for this discussion.
Now this does not apply to all Israel Stamps. Only the older ones have selvedge. Most stamps after the Mid-Sixties do not have selvedge, only the Tab [Straight edge at bottom [or side]]. So the term 'with full Tabs' only applies to earlier Israel Stamps.

I can add something that may be of importance for those interested in the Stamps of Israel or have some in their collections/stock.
Those stamps [like laswabbie's scan] without selvedge, have a value about the same as a stamp without Tab. For lower values this is not a big difference but for high values it can mean a difference of many $$$$$$ ! So anyone buying/exchanging/selling Israel Stamps would be wise to check if the stamps have full or short [part] tabs.
Even where value is not an issue, Israel stamps should be collected with Full Tabs or you may forever feel there is something missing !

Phew !
Nuff from me.
If you have any more questions,please don't hesitate to ask.

Londonbus1.

PS. If you look in an Oxford dictionary, you will find that the words Selvedge [or selvage] and Tab are both connected to cloth !

Speaking of tabs and selvage, but changing countries to Switzerland. In Switzerland, stamps for first class service, so called A Priority, are typically sold with a "A Priority" stamp"ette" immediately adjacent to the stamps at issue. The stickler is separated from the stamp and has its own perfs. Since its a self adhesive, there isn't anything " connecting" the sticker to the stamp. Please see the CH Post for a current example https://shop.post.ch/PostShop/Categ...mmlerartikel

Is the A Priority sticker a tab, is it selvage or is it something else and is it "collectible" with the stamp being issued? Or is it just an ordinary sticker that ought to be discarded?

London is absolutely right. I just pulled a pic off ebay at random and didn't even notice the perfs along the bottom edge.

The first page of Israel listings in the Scott's catalog has a list of the issues with double tabs although I have some question about the accuracy of the list.

I have just seen the list and will check it later. I looks about right at first glance.
I noticed they did not call the 'other' part, the Selvedge. In Israel stamp terminology they are Tab and Selvedge. I thought Scott would have known that.

Londonbus1

i thought scott died a long time ago?

He did, but his ideas live on. They should have known.

I've heard that his ghost comes back and edits each and every edition of the catalogs. I can't say it's true, but who knows!

It would be strange for him to miss that!

Idhaber,

Interesting question !

I have looked at the stamps on the website but cannot determine if the Die-cutting goes through the backing card or not.
So we can look at this in different ways.
If one collects mint and this stamp can be detached intact with the 'Tab'[or sticker], then I would definitely display it this way. I have a number of stamps with the priority label attached...although not self-adhesive. Yes, I would call it a tab although most would call it a sticker. Having said that, many collectors call self-adhesive stamps, stickers too !

However, if the Tab[or sticker] cannot be detached because of lack of die-cutting on the backing, then individual stamps cannot be displayed in the same way. The tab [or sticker] is most often placed on the upper left side of the envelope so is detached anyway for postal use !
Confusing isn't it.
So finding a used copy with 'tab' would be difficult but a mint copy with 'tab' is possible.....or not !

But if you call it a sticker it doesn't matter anyway !

Londonbus1.....If someone understood this post please enlighten me !

Hi, LDNBus1,

Actually I suspect that the distinction between the israeli tab you are showing and the question I raised about the Swiss A Priority sticker (I believe the correct name is "etiquette", rather than "sticker") is as follows:

1. Your Israeli tab appears to be directly related to the larger stamp in terms of content as well as physical proximity. The tab you showed is specifically for the Yovel of Tel Aviv. Hence it is collectible.

2. My Swiss etiquette example, the sticker is non-specific and its not related to the larger stamp and is presumedly identical to other etiquette stamps for other issues at the same time. Hence, it is not collectible. Or, at least not collectible with this particular stamp, but might be collectible on its own.

Does that make sense?

You could then extend this to the Australian booklet pane that is shown earlier in the thread. That advert is non-specific, but part of a booklet pane and to maintain the integrity of the booklet pane, the tab is collectible.

Still make sense?

Best,

Larry

Are you paying attention Tina ?

I do not agree. In fact the opposite is true. One can use the Israel stamp without the tab, the tab is valueless.
The Swiss etiquette however should be used with the stamp value to which it is 'attached'. Yes, they are collectible, although maybe not as attractive as the Israel tabs. However, I do not know anyone who collects only the Tabs from Israel stamps, neither have I seen any for sale, except by mistake.
Etiquettes, on the other hand, have a large following, me included, and can often be found on dealers lists, ebay and show tables.

Londonbus1...Off for a bite of Swiss cheese !