¿What’s a hinge?

It is a gummed paper which adheres to the back of the stamps to be placed on the sheets of the albums. They were used approximately until 1960, date in which appeared the stamp mounts. Stamps presenting hinges, on equal quality and conservation, have a lower value than those who do not have it.

 

¿What’s C.N, B.C, y C.L? 

They are abbreviations related to stamps centering. C.N. is equivalent to poorly centered, B.C. is equivalent to median centered and C.L. equivalent to well centered. Centering refers to white margins surrounding stamps. “Centrado normal” is as usually appears in a particular stamp, “Bien centrado” is above average and “Centrado de lujo” is perfect, since the four margins are the same width.

 

What’s a certificate?

It is a document issued by a philatelic expert or a Commission of experts where is reproduced the certified stamp indicating its authenticity and its conservation status. It is recommended for series or value exceeding €500 stamps and overcharged stamps of high value.


What are the perforations?

They are small holes made between stamps to facilitate their separation. The perforation is measured by the number of holes contained in 2 cm. A single-digit indicates that the perforation is equal on all sides. When two figures are shown, the first refers to the horizontal perforation and the second to the vertical


What’s a variety?

Variety is the stamp that is different from the one of the normal issue, either by color, teeth, double printing, or other cause.

 

What are the stamps from souvenir sheet?

They are stamps that are cut out of the souvenir sheets. The most complete collections often include souvenir sheets and cut them the stamps.


What are unperforated stamps?

They are stamps that have no perforations on all four sides. In general all emissions of Spain until 1865 hadn’t a perforation, and from this time, the ”unperforated” are mistakes that have normally escaped from drilling, except series Edifil No. 291, 72728, 729 30, 888 and 107582.

 

What’s a stamp block of four?

They are four stamps together forming a block of two horizontal and two vertical stamps. Usually in Spain, the stamps before 1955 have a value exceeding four seals which do not arise in block of four.


What are the catalogues of stamps?

They are publications to identify and classify the stamps, as well as to know its value. They reproduce each of the stamps issued. There are catalogues of spanish stamps (Edifil, Filabo, etc.) and international (Yvert et Tellier, Michel, Scott, etc.)

 

What’s a topical collection?

Is the one aimed at collecting a country or different countries on a given topic. For example painting, cinema, Olympics stamps, etc.

 

What’s the philatelic material?

It is the material that is used to sort, manipulate and examine stamps. To classify the stamps we will use a classifier or an album, album leaves, and stamps mounts. To manipulate the stamps we will use stamp tongs and to consider them a magnifying glass, a perforation, etc.

 

What’s a classifier? 

It is a book with transparent bands that serves to place and order stamps, some with black or white sheet and with different sizes and number of sheets.