Souvenir Sheet, Mini Sheet, Sheet Sheet ...

Point of order!

At https://goscf.com/t/40390#40390 rustyc has posted a beautiful souvenir sheet from Botswana.

It seems to me that the once-distinct categories of 'mini-sheet' and 'souvenir sheet' are beginning to overlap.

Historically, it seems to me, a souvenir sheet was issued for a chronologically distinct event; for example, something ending in '-PEX'.

Mini-sheets, it seems to me, were simply sheets that held fewer stamps than 'usual' sheets; for US collectors, for the longest time, this meant 50 commemoratives or 100 definitives.

These days, it seems to me, 'souvenir' sheet has come to mean 'mini-sheet with a decorative border'.

Q/ As these categories have grown, should catalogs distinguish (as in 'use different numbering sequences') between souvenir sheets & mini-sheets? (Not Stamp X in souvenir sheet form, but the sheets themselves, get a catalog number.)

Q/ Should the Botswana item (above) be described as a souvenir sheet, mini-sheet, or some 3rd/new term?

Q/ Is there anyone else willing to admit that, at some point in their lives, they thought that Botswana was just an easier way of writing/saying Bophuthatswana? (I once lived under the footprint of the satellite that broadcast BOP TV; it was a treat, especially the localized KFC & laundry detergent ads.)

Cheers,

/s/ ikeypikey

Interesting... just yesterday, I was catching up on back issues of Linn's. One of the articles was about defining these overlapping terms:

http://www.linns.com/howto/refreshe...rcourse.aspx

Kirk

P.S. a point of order is a statement; you're asking questions, so that would be a point of information (RONR, 11th edition, pg 294).

Also consider that the USPS references to a "souvenir sheet" differs -- sometimes quite substantially -- from a collector's view of a "souvenir sheet". It seems the USPS is applying the term "souvenir sheet" to their marketing schemes. For example, if the USPS requires you to buy a full pane of stamps they refer to it as a "souvenir sheet". Examples are Chinese New Year, Batman, War of 1812 series, etc.

iKeyPikey, I had doubts about the accuracy of the term I used right after I posted the Botswana ____ sheet. In reviewing the post, I see that at one point I called it simply "souvenir," although -- full disclosure -- that was actually a typo.

Personally I have a tendency to follow the North American conbention of naming the term for the souple-three stamps surrounded by a larger extra pictured marging, such as the mentioned Botswana sheet as a souvenir sheet.

But, in the rest of the world, I have noticed on ebay and Delcampe, the tendency leans towards the use of the term Minature Sheet or Mini Sheet or MS or M/S or M.S. .


I would like to see a regularity for the naming of such items as you mention though. This would help buying, searching on auction sites, Google, and selling items around the world also.

Puzzler, terminology in our hobby is littered with wrong word usage. For example, many collectors and, indeed, dealers, seem unable to differentiate between a colour trial, proof and an essay, call letterpress typography, the list is endless. I too waste much time searching for items that are often there but mis-described, so are probably missed by me.

As for MS and SS items, I tend to define them based on the number of different stamps the item has - up to 6 stamps it's a MS, 7-12 a SS, above 12 a counter sheet. But then there are the sheetlets of same design definitives with between 10 (Germany) and 25 (UK) stamps.

So I am probably adding to the confusion that I am complaining about! GLENN