Terminology 'Jumbo' Variety-Definition

I have seen the term 'JUMBO' used several times in the Community, found as a descriptive at stamp shows, looked for a definition in reference catalogue (specific to stamp issues) and cannot come up with a consistent definition. Does 'JUMBO' relate to the overall size of the stamp?, just the design?, only to classic era?, or does it have different meaning where classic issue vs. more modern issues?? I have several classic issues termed 'JUMBO' and the same Scott # w/o the term 'JUMBO' & looks smaller. Wouldn't the 'JUMBO' be a variety?? I am a little stumped by the term (more like confused).

My understanding is that Jumbo refers to the size of the spaces between the design and the perfs. Broad margins are considered very attractive in US collecting, however I do not collect any US. All the said, I find the term quite confusing. Most key elements of stamps production are fixed- the printing plate, the perforation method (for a given perf size), etc. The only variables are the paper and gum, which can shrink or expand differently depending on various factors.

So are we saying that Jumbo stamps are stamps where the paper has either expanded or not shrunk, compared with stamps of the same exact catalog number? If not, then the concept of "Jumbo" is really ...... bogus.

Eligies, "Jumbo" is generally meant as larger margins as shermae pointed out. It is also used, mainly with coil stamps to distinguish small and large perforation holes on the same stamp. This phenomenon is probably caused by a broken perforator pin, which is then replaced with a larger size pin!

Peter

When I see or refer to a stamp as a Jumbo, I am referencing the margins around the stamp design to the inside of the perforations or the edges (for imperforate stamps). Below, I consider the top stamp to be a Jumbo and the bottom stamp not a Jumbo.

Perforating wheels are not always set to the same dimensions; jumbos occur when they are spread a little far apart in both directions for the size of the stamp involved. It also means that the stamps surrounding the jumbo will have small margins on at least one side. Jumbo's do not occur because of shrinkage, which would affect the whole stamp and not just the margins.

Revcollector, makes perfect sense. Great clarification. I would think Jumbos are much more common or almost exclusively associated with line perf issues since the pins are all aligned independently? Comb perf issues have all pins pre-aligned, but do Jumbos occur in comb perf printings?

Thanks all for the comments. I am guessing that the definitive understanding is a combination of factors either individually or in combination. Large framed unit caused by original design engraving; large margins due to perf wheel alignment, ( this I think would produce minimal # of items per SHEET when cut to panes possible only 1/pane & not all panes). I am not of the opinion that JUMBO is the same as an oversize such as the current Wilt (the stilt) or the SC#1096 Champions, or 1383, 1537a etc. This might be why there is no 'JUMBO' definition in any glossary I have. Again thanks.

A nice example of jumbo versus regular stamp sizes. The margins make all the difference.

A Queen Victoria selection with Small Queens in a row.

Picture from ebay seller bouch_maz in Canada.

by definition, comb perforators could only leave a "jumbo" margin on one side (the open side). That would also leave a gap that would make the other perforations look off.

Also remember, a jumbo is relative - for the early perforated pence and cents issues, jumbo margins would still be narrower than those found on the small queens.

This stamp, in my mind, qualifies as a jumbo:

A few jumbos:

Here is another jumbo--the largest in my collection.

The stamp is a noted variety of Denmark Scott 230. It comes from a booklet pane, Scott 230b.

Regards, Robert

Edit: Replaced Photobucket obscured/watermarked images.

Technically that's not a jumbo, as it was deliberately printed with margins that size. A jumbo in the philatelic universe is a stamp with unusually large margins... the exception rather than the rule.

Oh well. Back into the album it goes.

I was going thru a bunch of A88s today and I came across this 248 jumbo. Thought it was nice enough to post here. With so many of these printed, I would imagine jumbos are pretty common.

My favorite definition: "Jumbo on two sides"

That is a classic Apfelbaumian description.