SA to SE
Updated November 2021 – Accents and Diacritics repaired.
7-1-71: issue date of the new USPS emblem, issued at every post office in the nation, creating a new field of specialization.
S: 1:Auction abbreviation term for "Superb" or best there is. 2: auction abbreviation term for Specimen. 3: international postal code for Sweden. 4: Scott Catalog number prefix for Franchise. 5: shilling, ship, Seville; pre-adhesive postmark. 6: Sucre; currency unit in Ecuador. 7: Som; currency unit in Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan. 8: auction abbreviation for "scarce," in scale of rarity. 9: British canceler for Stamboul, Constantinople, or Istanbul; 1884-1914. 10: in Cyrillic is the letter "C"; thus C.C.C.P. = S.S.S.R., known as the U.S.S.R.; Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. 11: in circle. arrival mark for mail routed through Spain, used in Gibraltar. 12: in barred oval; Salonica. 13: Colombia-Scadta consular overprint for Switzerland. 14: Sheriff, South Australia official overprint, 1868-74. 15: Straits Settlements-Selangor surcharge overprint, 1879-91. 16. Colombia-Scadta consular overprint for Switzerland. 17. Sheriff, South Australia official overprint, 1868-74.
$S: Dollar, currency unit in Singapore.
S20, S30, S40: marginal markings on some rotary press plates made from a die with an experimental variation in the frame line depth.
SA: Latvia overprint, Russian Occupation.
S.A.: 1: Saudi Arabia. 2: see self-adhesive. 3: pressure sensitive gum or see self-adhesive.
Saar: region between France and Germany, southeast of Luxembourg; currency: 100 pfennig = 1 mark, 100 centimes = 1 franc (1921) 1920-35 administered by France under League of Nations control, 1920, Jan.30: No.1, 2 pfennings gray, issued its own stamps, those of Germany and Bavaria overprinted “Saare” (Fr.) or “Saargebiet” (Ger.), 1922: first official stamp, 1926, Oct. 25: first semipostal stamp, 1928, Sept. 19: first air mail stamp, 1934, December to February 1935: British Field PO 10 used during plebiscite, 1935, March 1: became the Saarland Province of the Third Reich as a result of the plebiscite, stamps of Germany used, 1945, Dec. 17-Jan. 3, 1947: French Occupation Zone of Germany, 1947, Jan.: region had its own stamps as French Administration Protectorate, inscribed “Saar,” 1948, Oct. 12: first air mail semipostal stamp, 1951, Jan.1: State of Saar established, 1957, Jan. 1: reunion with Federal Republic of Germany, stamps inscribed “Saarland,” but valued in French currency, 1959, July 6: Saar stamps discontinued, German Federal Republic stamps and currency used.
Saare: (Ger.) overprint on stamps of Bavaria and Germany for Saar.
Saare: (Fr., Ger., It.) Saar.
Saaremaa: bogus, Russia area, not valid for postage.
Saargebeit: (Ger.) overprint/inscription for Saar.
Saargebeit Luftpost: (Ger.) Saar air mail.
Saargebeit Volkshilfe: (Ger.) Saar semipostals.
Saarland: (Ger.) inscription from 1957-59 for Saar.
Saarpost: (Ger.) Saar mail.
Sabadell: city in Spain, local post, Civil War; Republican forces,1937
Sabah: formerly North Borneo; 1963: became Sabah before joining the Federation of Malaysia, 1964, July 1: No.1, 1¢ red brown and green, Sabah overprint on stamps of North Borneo, 1964: no stamps for the territory above 25¢ issued since the 1964 issue; see North Borneo.
Sabot: Dutch; see Evans, Donald.
Sacha-Yakutia: bogus Russian issue.
Sach(s)en: (Ger.) Saxony, German State.
Sachet, stamp: containers/folders of loose stamps sold in British post offices vending machines.
Sachsen: (Ger.) Saxony.
Sachsen Bundesland: (Ger.) on stamps of Germany for the Russian Zone of Saxony.
Sächische Schwärzungen: (Ger.) Saxon blackouts; Hitler and Hindenburg definitives with the portrait obliterated; provisional postal use, Soviet-occupied Germany, beginning May 12, 1945. Sac postal: (Fr.) mail bag
Sad Polowy D.O.E. Wolyn: (Pol.) army field court marshal, handstamp, Poland, 1921.
SAE: stamped-addressed envelope.
Sćrstempel: (Dan.) cachet.
Safad Issue: provisional issue authorized by Israel Commissioner of Postal Services, April 1942.
Safety paper: two-ply paper made by two webs of different quality paper pressed together, used to make stamps hard to forge, a common form has silk threads in it, also known as Duplex paper.
Safety paper overprint: same as underprint, except printed on top of already printed stamps.
Safety paper underprint: applied prior to printing the stamp's design; can be a pattern of repeated words in very small type, numbers, bars, straight lines, network patterns or other designs.
Safe vinyl: vinyl is not chemically safe or stable and it is impossible for a vinyl product to be inert; from: Preservation and Storage Library of Victoria.
Safeway Car Service: United Kingdom postal strike; local post 1971.
Saffi / Marrakech: local post, Morocco, 1898-1900
Safieh: city in Egypt, 1880, see Interpostal seals.
Safir: (Nor.) sapphire, deep purplish-blue (color).
Sage type: French series, 1876-1900, designed by Jules-Auguste Sage who won a French government competition for a new stamp design.
Saggio: (It.) proof, essay. 1: Italy, Italian Colonies, overprint for specimen. 2: Italy, Italian Colonies, overprint for proof.
Saggio di colore: (It.) trial color proof.
Sagittair: United Kingdom postal strike; local post 1971.
Sagunto: city in Spain, local post, Spanish Civil War; Republican forces, 1937.
Saha, Saha-Yakutia: bogus Russian local overprint.
Sahara, Empire of: bogus, West Coast of Africa strip of land between Cape Bojador and Cape Juby, 1907.
Sahara Espanol: (Sp.) overprint on stamps of Spain for Spanish Sahara, 1924.
Sahara Occidental: (Sp.)inscription on stamps of Spain for Western Sahara.
Sahara Occ. R.A.S.D.: (Sp.)Western Sahara.
Sahara Occidental La Aguera: (Sp.) La Aguera.
Saharan republic: Saharan republic, illegal issues, not issued by Morocco, based on UPU circular of Nov. 18, 2002.
Sahraoui, République Arabe Démocratique: (Fr.) bogus, labels, does not exist, reported to the UPU April 10, 2000 by Morocco.
S.A.I.D.E.: Service Aérien Internationale d'Egypte (Fr.); (International Air Service of Egypt) overprint on stamps of Egypt, 1948, for inaugural flights from Cairo to Athens and Rome.
Saigon: Vietnam, now known as Ho Chi Minh City.
Saint Christophe: (Fr.) St. Kitts.
Saint Christopher: see St. Christopher.
Saint Christopher, Nevis and Anguilla: see St. Christopher, Nevis and Anguilla.
Saint Christopher Nevis, Anguilla: Beach Cricket inscription, unissued Great Britain cinderella by David Horry, 2001.
Sainte Helene: (Fr.) St. Helena.
Sainte Foy la Grande: local provisional, France, 1944
Sainte-Marie de Madagascar: French 1881: administered from Diego Suarez, 1894, April: first stamps issued, 1890: used stamps of Diego Suarez, 1898, Jan. 18: stamps withdrawn,
Saint Helena: see St. Helena.
Saint Helena Tristan Relief: overprint on stamps of St. Helena; semipostal for Tristan da Cunha, 1961.
Saint James: local label, Danish West Indies, 1910?
Saint John's College: local, United Kingdom, Cambridge, 1883-85.
Saint Kilda: bogus local, United Kingdom
Saint Kitts: see St. Kitts.
Saint Louis: 1: U.S. postmaster provisional US 11X. 2: City Dispatch, US local post, 1851. 3: Clark & Hall's Penny Post, U.S. local post, 1851. 4: Saint Louis City Delivery Company, US local post, 1883. 5: Smith & Stephens' City Delivery, US Local post. 6: Squier & Co.'s Letter Dispatch, U.S. local post, 1859-60.
Saint Lucia: see St. Lucia
Saint Lucia Steam Conveyance Co., Ltd.: West Indies local post, 1871-72
Saint Marino: (Fr.) San Marino.
Saint Petersburg: 1: Deutsch-Baltisches Comite; Russian local post, 1918. 2: "SPB" local overprint on stamps of Russia, 1992. 3. city in Russia, formerly known as Leningrad and Petrograd.
Saint Pierre and Miquelon: see St. Pierre and Miquelon.
Saint Thomas and Prince Islands: see St. Thomas and Prince Islands.
Saint Thomas-Porto Rico: bogus local post, 1869.
Saint Vincent: see St. Vincent.
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines: see St. Vincent Grenadines
Saisprezece: (Rom) sixteen (number).
Saizeci: (Rom) sixty (number).
S.A.K.: Saudi Arabia Kingdom.
Sakha: 1: 2002, Jan. 14: illegal labels, purporting to be stamps, Russian Federation report to the UPU; not valid for postage. 2: city in Egypt, 1880, see Interpostal seals.
Sakhalin: 2002, Jan. 14: illegal labels, purporting to be stamps, Russian Federation report to the UPU; not valid for postage.
Sakha-Yakutia: state at Yakutsk, cinderella local post, 1994.
Sakura: specialized catalogue of Japan.
SAL: Surface AirLift, form of overseas mailing.
Salamanca: city in Spain, local post, Spanish Civil War, Nationalist forces, 1938
Salamanca Province: province in western part of Spain near border of Portugal; 1868-69: provisional stamps used in the Spanish province; handstamped with "Habilitado Por La Nacion." (Provisional Government) Spain 117f-122f, 1868-70.
Salamon Szigetek: (Hung.) the Solomon Islands.
Sale by tender: auction whereby the highest bidder gets the lot at the bid price, regardless of the next highest bidder's offer.
Salem, N. C. Paid 5: see Confederate Postmasters' Provisionals.
Sales circuit: see Circuit Book.
Salhagar: city in Egypt, 1880, see Interpostal seals.
Salida: (Sp.) exit; used in post-Civil War censor marks as a "S" to indicate item was sent from the Censorship Department.
Salinas: city in Spain, local post, Spanish Civil War, Republican forces, 1937
Salins: local provisional; France; 1944.
Salisburgo: also known as Salzburg, Austria. Salisbury: now known as Harare, Zimbabwe.
Salisbury, N. C. Postage five cents: see Confederate Postmasters' Provisionals.
S. Allan Taylor Boston: inscription for Samuel Allan Taylor, stamp dealer, who produced many labels for sale to collectors.
Sällsynt: (Swed.) scarce.
Salobrena: city in Spain, local post, Spanish Civil War, Nationalist forces, 1937-38
Salon de Provence: local provisional, France; 1944
Salonica: Greek seaport on the Aegean Sea, now known as Thessaloniki; 1912-pre: part of the Turkish Empire, 1909, Feb.: No.1, 10 paras on 5c green, “Salonicco” surcharge on stamps of Italy; Italian post office in the Levant; Russian post office in Turkish Empire, 1916: British post office in the Levant; see Salonika and Salonique. WW I: base for Allied operations, WW II: occupied by Germany.
Salonicco: see Salonica; city in Egypt, 1868, see Interpostal seals.
Salonicco: See Salonica; overprint on stamps of Italy for Italian Offices in the Turkish Empire; Salonika, 1919-11.
Saloniceo: overprint on stamps of Italy for Italian Offices in Turkish Empire, Salonika
Salonika: 1911, overprint on stamps of Turkey for Sultan's visit to Macedonia.
Saloniki: (Ger.) Salonica.
Salonique: city that was gateway to the Adriatic Coast; 1909-10; overprint on stamps of Russia; Russian Offices In the Turkish Empire, Salonica; issued to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Russian post office in the Turkish Empire.
Saltillo: overprint on stamps of Mexico for this district, 1856-1883.
Salung: unit of currency in Siam (Thailand).
Salvador, El: Pacific coast of Central America, formally known as El Salvador; official name of postal administration: Dirección General de Correos currency: 100 centavos = 8 reales = 1 peso, 100 centavos = 1 coló 1822, Sept. 2: became independent of Spain, 1841, Jan. 30: assumed formal name of El Salvador, 1867, May: No.1, ½ real blue, first stamp, 1879, April 1: joined the U.P.U., 1890-98: signed agreement with Seebeck for free stamps in exchange for the right of Seebeck to make and sell reprints to collectors, 1895: first postage due, parcel post stamp, 1896: first official stamp, 1897: first Acknowledgment of Receipt stamp, 1929, Dec. 28: first air mail stamp, 1931: first postal tax stamp.
Salve Hospes: "National Tourist Assn.," inscription on stamps of Netherlands for semipostal.
Salvonia: bogus overprint on stamps of Yugoslavia overprinted for Bosnia Republic.
Salzburg: province of Austria; 1921: local issue for plebiscite, 1945: AMG stamps issued for use during occupation.
SAM: Space Available Airmail; to be sent via airmail if space is available, usually on US military transportation.
Samalout: city in Egypt, 1880-84, see Interpostal seals,.
Samanoud: city in Egypt, 1864-84, see Interpostal seals.
Samara: local post; Russian Zemstvo; 1908.
Samarinda: local overprint for Japanese Naval Control Area; Japanese occupation; 1942-45.
Sambata: (Rom.) Saturday.
Sambia: (Ger.) Zambia.
Same Day Delivery: United Kingdom postal strike; local post 1971.
Samenhanged: (Dut.) setenat.
Sämisch: (Ger.) buff, brownish-yellow (color).
Samling: (Dan., Nor., Swed.) collection.
Sammantryck: (Swed.) se-tenant.
Sammaröarnas: (Fin.) used on steamships, carrying mail, serving Finland cities, 1913.
Sammeln: (Ger.) collect; to assemble or bring together.
Sammenhengende: (Nor.) se-tenant.
Sammermarken: (Ger.) "Philatelic handling label" for careful canceling and handling of mail, supplied by postal authority, Germany.
Sammler: (Ger.) collector, a person who collects, especially rare things.
Sammlerverein: (Ger.) collector's club.
Sammlung: (Ger.) collection, an assembly of philatelic material.
Samoa: : island in the South Pacific, east of Figi, aka Western Samoa; islands in the South Pacific Ocean, between Hawaii and New Zealand; Stamps of this country can be found in these catalogs:Stanley Gibbons, Michel, Scott, Yvert et Tellier. Currency: 12 pence = 1 shilling, 20 shillings = 1 pound, 100 pfenning = 1 mark (1900) 100 sene (cents) = 1 tala (dollar) (1967) 19th century, late: islands divided between Germany, Great Britain and the U.S.: 1877: first stamp, “Samoa Express,” postal service by local newspaper, Samoan Times, 1878: No.1,1 shilling, orange yellow, first stamp, 1881: service closed, but reprints exist, 1891: joined the U.P.U., however mail to the U.S.A. required an additional 5˘ American stamp to pay for inland delivery, 1895: “Samoa Postage” inscription on stamps, 1898: Britain withdrew, used overprinted stamps of Germany, 1900: (German Samoa) islands divided between Germany and the U.S.; #8220;Samoa” overprint on stamps of Germany, and German colonial keytypes, eastern group used U.S. stamps, 1914, Aug. 29: German dominated islands occupied by New Zealand, “G.R.I.” overprint on stamps of Germany and surcharged in New Zealand currency, 1914, Sept. 29: overprint “Samoa” on stamps of New Zealand, "G.R.I." overprint on stamps of German Samoa and surcharged in New Zealand currency, 1920: mandated to New Zealand by the League of Nations, 1920s: mourning label issued by German stamp dealer Sigmund Hartig, 1921: New Zealand stamps replaced by stamps of Samoa, 1935, Aug. 7: “Western Samoa” inscribed / overprinted on stamps, 1962, Jan. 1: Western Samoa became independent, 1962, July 2: became the independent country of Samoa, stamps inscribed “Samoa I Sisifo” (Western Samoa), 1965, Dec. 29: first air mail stamp, 1966, Sept. 1: first semipostal stamp, 1977: name officially shortened to Samoa, 1989, Aug. 9: joined the U.P.U.; see G.R.I.
Samoa Express: local post, 1877-80
Samoa i Sisifo: (Samoan) Western Samoa, Independent State, 1958; see Samoa.
Samoa Occidental: (Fr.) Western Samoa.
Samorzad Warwiszki: (Pol.) overprint on stamps of Poland for South Lithuania, Polish occupation, March 23-27, 1923.
Samos: aka Vathy, Aegean Island; 1878-1912: Aegean Island; Ottoman Principality, Turkish control with British, French and Russian protection, 1894: stamps of France surcharged / overprinted “Vathy,” 1912, Nov. 14: captured by Greece from Turkey, provisional government; issued own stamps, No.1, 5 lira gray green, 1913, May 30: Samos united with Greece by the Treaty of London, stamps of Samos overprinted “Greece” in Greek letters, 1914: stamps of Greece used, WW II: occupied by Axis forces.
"Sample (A)": an overprint used on stamps instead of specimen; produced by the American Bank Note Co. at the request of the U.S. Post Office Department to avoid confusion with "Specimen" overprinted issues; 1889.
Sample labels, stamps: security printer products to show prospective clients the capabilities of different printing processes.
Sample Post: an international special rate for trade samples packed in small parcels.
Samsoun: current name is Samsun; French post office opened Nov. 1857, closed Aug. 1914.
SAN: 1: Sanabria's Air Post Catalog 2: (Sp.) saint
Sanad, Sunnud: Indian States term for title deed, charter, etc.
Sanahuja: city in Spain, local post, Spanish Civil War, Republican forces, 1937
San Antonio, Tex Paid 10: see Confederate Postmasters' Provisionals.
Sanar: currency unit in Afghanistan.
San Augustin: (Sp.) St. Augustine postal marking used in 1784.
Sanda Island: Great Britain local carriage label, Scottish island, 1962.
Sandia Crest: local post, New Mexico, delivered mail from a visitors' center on top of the mountain Sandia Crest to the post office, 1956-61.
Sand Dune States: 1960s nickname for desert sheikdoms that issued a large number of stamps.
Sandjak d'Alexandrette: overprint on stamps of Syria for Alexandretta, 1938.
Sanjak: local overprint on stamps of Yugoslavia; 1990s.
Sands, A. B. & D.: U.S. private die medicine proprietary stamp.
Sands, M.P.J. & H.M.: U.S. private die medicine proprietary stamp.
Sandwich Islands: former name for the Hawaiian Islands, discovered by Capt. Cook in 1778, named by Cook after Earl of Sandwich.
Sandzak: Jugoslavia labels.
San Francisco: 1: California City Letter Express Co.; US local post; 1850s-60s. 2: California Penny Post Co.; 1850s-60s. 3: Carnes' City Letter Express: US local post; 1864. 4: Gahagan & Howe City Express: US local post; 1864-70. 5: Reed's City Despatch post; US local post; 1853-54. 6: William E. Loomis Letter Express; US local post; 1868
San Francisco Match Company: see Private die match proprietary stamps. San Francisco roulettes: postal authorities found sheets in 1907 of the 2˘ carmine with shield on 1903, with horizontal perforations missing between two top rows; rouletted at San Francisco.
Sang: unit of currency in Tibet.
Sanita: (Sp.) marking on mail that has been fumigated so that the letter will not be a carrier of disease.
Sanitary Fair stamp: unofficial stamps issued by the U.S. Sanitary Fair Commission and considered a forerunner of the Red Cross; 1863, Dec.: first stamps inscribed, "Young Ladies of Brooklyn Bazaar."
Sanitatsstempel: (Ger.) postmark that the item has been disinfected.
Sanitorium: with cross of Lorraine, inscription on stamps of Dominican Republic for postal tax.
San Juan: city in Spain, local post, Spanish Civil War, Republican forces, 1937.
San Juan de la Pena: city in Spain, local post, Spanish Civil War, Nationalist forces, 1937.
San Juan del Puerto: city in Spain, local post, Spanish Civil War, Nationalist forces,1936-37.
San Juan Despi: city in Spain, local post, Spanish Civil War, Republican forces, 1939.
San Luis Potosi, State of: region in Mexico; 1914: revolutionary provisional stamps issued.
San Marino: eastern Italy, European republic; currency: 100 centesimi = 1 Italian lira, 100 cents = 1 euro (2002) 1850-70; stamps of the Papal States, 1870-77: stamps of Italy, 1877, Aug. 1: No.1, 2 cents green, first stamp, 1897: first postage due stamp, 1907, April 25: first special delivery stamp, 1915, July 1: joined the U.P.U., 1917, Dec. 15: first semipostal stamp, 1923, Sept. 20: first semipostal special delivery stamp, 1928, Nov. 22: first parcel post stamp, 1931, June 11: first air mail stamp, 1933, Apr. 28: “Zeppelin” surcharge on air mail stamps, 1944, Apr. 25: first air mail semipostal stamp, WW II: not occupied by foreign powers.
San Nicolas: city in Spain, local post, Spanish Civil War, Nationalist forces, 1936.
San Paulo: province of Brazil; revolutionary government issued stamps, Sept. 1932.
Sans: (Fr.) without.
Sans charnière: (Fr.) unhinged.
Sans Dinero: (Without Money) South America mythical country.
San Paulo: seceding state in Brazil; 1932
San Sebastian: city in Spain, local post, Spanish Civil War, Nationalist and Republican forces, 1937
Sans gomme: (Fr.) ungummed.
Sans-serif type: (without caps or serifs), type without an ornamental projection to one side of a letter, at top or bottom.
Sans Valeur: (Fr.) without value overprint, used as a training stamp.
Santa: city in Egypt,1879-84, see Interpostal seals.
Santa Ana la Real: city in Spain, local post, Spanish Civil War, Nationalist forces, 1937.
Santa Claus: children's stamps; see Toy stamps.
Santa Claus post: label produced by Dennison, 1908-12.
Santa Cruz de Tenerife: largest of the Canary Islands; 1936: Spanish stamps overprinted Viva Espana/18 Julio/1936, Spanish Civil War, Nationalist and Republican forces.
Santa Cruz del Comercio: city in Spain, local post, Spanish Civil War, Nationalist forces, 1937-38.
Santafe: city in Spain, local post, Spanish Civil War, Nationalist forces, 1937-38
Santa Fe Express: handwritten marking to indicate mail via the Missouri frontier via a military express.
San-Tai: local post; Southwest China; 1949.
Santa Landia: Christmas fantasy labels created by Maggie Kate.
Santa Maria Albarracin: city in Spain, local post, Spanish Civil War, Nationalist and Republican forces,1936.
Santa Maura: aka Lefkas, Greek stamps with Italian overprints are fraudulent; see Lefkas.
Santander: 1: Department in Colombia, formerly a state; stamps issued 1884-1907. 2: city in Spain, local post, Spanish Civil War, Nationalist and Republican forces, 1937 3: Correo Rapido de Santander; local post; 1926-28
Santapola: city in Spain, local post, Spanish Civil War, Republican forces, 1937
Santavakia: Christmas fantasy labels created by Maggie Kate.
Santiago de la Espada: city in Spain, local post, Spanish Civil War, Republican forces, 1937
Santim: unit of currency in Hatay.
Santimi, Santims, Santimu: 1923-25; surcharge, stamps of Latvia.
Santi Quaranta: Epirus port bogus overprint on stamps of Italy, 1914.
Santisteban del Puerto: city in Spain, local post, Spanish Civil War, Republican forces, 1937.
Santo Domingo: formerly Ciudad Trujillo, Dominican Republic.
San Tomas: local from Venezuela, 1864, used by Blohm, Nolting & Co., a German shipping company, that traveled between La Guaira, Puerto Cabello, St. Thomas (Danish Antilles) and Curazao (Curacao).
Sant Petersburg: (Rus.) Saint Petersburg, straight line cancel, about 1819-21
Sao Paulo: 1932, Sep.13: stamps issued by revolutionary forces; stamps later recognized by the government for general use.
S.A.O.R. Eire: United Kingdom postal strike; local post 1971.
Saorstát Eireann 1922: overprint on stamps of Great Britain for use in Free State of Ireland, Dec. 1922, 1925-27.
Sao Tome and Principe: see St. Thomas and Prince Islands.
Saouakin: city in Egypt, 1868-82, see Interpostal seals.
SAPDA: South African Philatelic Dealers Association.
Sapozhok: local post; Russian Zemstvo; 1870-1913
Saptamâna: (Rom.) week.
Sapte (Rom.) seven (number).
Saptesprezece: (Rom) seventeen (number).
Saptezeci: (Rom) thirty (number).
S. Ar.: (Sp.) Sevilla Aracena, Spain, pre-adhesive postmark.
SAR: Syria; Syrian Arab Republic.
S.A.R.: South African Railways.
Sar.; Sard.: (It.) Kingdom of Sardinia, pre-adhesive postmark.
Sarafou, Principality of: three islands issued labels, 175 leagues from the Phoenix Islands.
Saransk: local post, Russian Zemstvo; 1908
Sarapul: local post, Russian Zemstvo; 1893-94
Saratoff: city in Russia, local post, Russian Zemstvo; 1869-1879
Sarawak: northwest coast of the island of Borneo; currency: 100 cents = 1 dollar 1869, March 1: No.1, 3¢ brown yellow, stamps first issued, British protectorate, 1941, Dec.17-Sept. 11, 1945: Japanese occupation issue, stamps of Sarawak overprinted in Japanese, 1945, Nov.1: British military administration, stamps of Australia used, 1945, Dec. 17: Sarawak stamps overprinted “BMA” (British Military Administration), 1946, April 15: civil government restored, 1946, July 1: first stamp, ceded to Great Britain, became a Crown Colony, 1963, Sept.: joined the Federation of Malaysia, uses their stamps with overprint “Sarawak.”
Sarawak: Mad Dogs and Englishman, inscription, unissued Great Britain cinderella by David Horry, 2001.
Sârb: (Rom) Serbian (adj.).
Sardaigne: (Fr.) Sardinia.
Sardegna: (It.) Sardinia.
Sardinia, Kingdom of: Kingdom of Savoy, Piedmont and Sardinia; formed in 1815; 1817: world’s first postal stationery, carried by private agencies, each sheet embossed with a figure of a horse and rider, known as “little horses,” 1851, Jan. 1: No.1, 5 centesimi gray-black, first adhesive stamps issued, variations re-issued in 1853, 1854, 1855, 1855: Sardinia issue (imperforate) is identical to first issue of Italy (perforated), 1860: King of Sardinia became King of Italy, Savoy and Nice ceded to France, 1860: states of Italy joined Sardinia; Modena (March 16); Parma (March 18); Tuscany (March 22) and Romagna (March 25), 1861, March 17: became the Kingdom of Italy, 1862: stamps issued as Kingdom of Italy.
Sardinien: (Dan., Ger., Nor., Swed.) Sardinia.
Sardin' Island: Swiss origin fantasy.
Sárga: (Hung.) yellow (color).
Sárga Papíron: (Hung.) (on) yellow paper (color).
Sárgásbarna: (Hung.) yellow(ish)-brown (color).
Sárgászöld: (Hung.) yellow(ish)-green (color).
Sargent's Express: private mail delivery serviced Boston and Lowell, Mass., used a label, 1850.
Sark: island in English Channel, Guernsey Dependency, 1919-39: used British stamps, 1937: air service to Jersey, 1939 to Guernsey, 1962-1971: local posts.
Sarkari: overprint on stamps of Saurashtra for official use.
Saroelangoen: local overprint for Palembang district of Sumatra; 1942-45.
Sarral: city in Spain, local post, Spanish Civil War, Republican forces, 1937
Sarroca: city in Spain, local post, Spanish Civil War, Republican forces, 1937
SAS: Sassone Specialized Italy Postage Stamp Catalog
SASE: "Self-Addressed Stamped Envelope" is an unused envelope addressed to the sender with return postage affixed. Many stamp correspondents will not reply unless you include a SASE.
Sase: (Rom.) six (number).
Saseno: island in harbor of Valeno, Albania; currency: 100 centesimi = 1 lira 1914: seized by Italy, 1923, April: "Saseno" overprint on stamps of Italy, 1947: returned to Albania by the Treaty of Paris.
Sassone: specialized catalogue of Italian area, includes Trieste, San Marino, Vatican and more.
Satang: currency unit in Siam, Thailand.
SATAS: Societé pour l'Affranchissement et le Timbrage Automatiques (Fr.) postage meter firm founded in 1934, headquartered in Paris.
Satellite, French A-1; D-1: common design on stamps of the French Community of Nations, 1965-66.
Satellite Post Office: postal facility that has counter services, accepts mail and packages and sells stamps, but does not have any mailboxes.
Satinado: (Sp.) glazed, glossy.
S Atlantic Fund: surcharge on stamps of Barbuda.
Satzpreis: (Ger.) price for a complete set.
Satzware: (Ger.) series, stamps in set.
Saudi Arabia: on the Arabian peninsula between Red Sea and Persian Gulf, formerly Al Arabitan as-Saudiyah; currency: 40 paras = 1 piaster = 1 guerche (garch, qirsh), 11 guerche = 1 riyal (1928) 110 guerche = 1 sovereign (1931), 440 guerche = 1 sovereign (1952) 20 piasters (guerche) = 1 riyal (1960), 100 halalas = 1 riyal (1976) 1916: Grand Sherif of Mecca established the Arab State “Sanjak of Hejaz” and “Lawrence of Arabia” drove out the Turks, 1916, Oct.: first stamps issued considered as first issue of Hejaz and forerunner to those of Saudi Arabia, 1917, June 27: first Hejaz postage due stamps, 1921, Dec. 21: stamps for the Kingdom of Hejaz, 1925: No.1, 5 piaster ocher, first issues of the Nejd Administration of Hejaz on Turkish stamps, 1925, April: first Nejdi Administration of Hejaz postage due stamps, 1925: first newspaper stamp; may be unofficial, 1927, Jan. 1: joined the U.P.U. 1932: renamed Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, 1934, Jan.1: No. 1, 1/4 guerche yellow green, first stamps for Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, 1934, May 15: first postal tax stamp, 1937: first postage due stamp, 1939: first official stamp, 1949: first air mail stamp, see Hejaz-Nejd.
Saudiarabien: (Swed.) Saudi Arabia.
Saugor Island: local post; United Kingdom; rocket dispatch; 1934.
Saunders' Express: private mail delivery firm serviced Mass. and N. H.; used labels, 1860s.
Saurashtra: State in India, 1948: United States of Saurashtra formed of 216 former states on the Kathiawar Peninsula of India, 1949-50; stamps issued, 1956: became part of the Bombay State; see Soruth.
Säuregehalt: (Ger.) acidity.
Sav.: Savannah (Georgia) pre-adhesive postmark.
Savage Republic: rock band labels.
Savannah, Ga. paid 5, paid 10: see Confederate Postmasters' Provisionals.
Savannah, Georgia: occupied by British from 1778 to 1781.
Saventhem: Belgian church fair label.
Saverne: 1: local provisional; France; 1944. 2: Local for Alsace; German occupation; 1944
Savings Stamps: see U. S. War Savings Certificate Stamp.
Savona: Co. Nazionaldi Liberazione; local post; Italian liberation; 1944?
Savory & Co.'s Express: private mail and parcel delivery serviced Boston and Salem, Mass.; used labels, 1849-73.
Sawin's Express: local express firm serviced Boston and Cambridge, Mass., used labels, year unknown.
Saw-tooth: roulette type that gives the perforation a saw tooth appearance; British used term when automatic vending machines got out of register with the grips.
Saxony: central Germany, German State, aka Sachsen; currency: 10 pfennings = 1 neu-groschen, 30 neu-groschen = 1 thaler 1850, June 29: No.1, 3 pfennings brick red, first stamps issued, inscribed Sachsen, 1850, July: joined the Austro-German Postal Union, 1852-66: used double circle with crossed design as postmark, 1868, Jan. 1: stamps of the North German Confederation, 1871: became part of the German Empire, 1872: stamps of the German Empire, then the Weimar government, followed by stamps of the Third Reich, 1945: Saxony Province; issued “Provinz Sachsen” stamps under Russian occupation, 1945: East Saxony (Dresden) issued stamps under German occupation, 1945: West Saxony (Leipzig) issued local stamps under Russian occupation, 1946, Feb. 12: West Saxony issued semipostal issues under Russian occupation, 1946, Jan 19: Saxony Province; issued semipostal stamp under Russian occupation, subsequently part of the German Democratic Republic.
S. Ay.: (Sp.) Sevilla Ayamonte (Spain) pre-adhesive postmark.
Sayalonga: city in Spain, local post, Spanish Civil War, Nationalist forces, 1938
Sayles, Welcome B.: postmaster, Providence, RI, 1844-46, issued Postmaster's Provisional stamps.
SB: 1: softbound. 2: stock book, suggested bid. 3: boat: steamboat, pre-adhesive postmark.
SBZ: (Ger.) Soviet Occupation Zone, Germany.
SC: 1: USPS abbreviation for South Carolina. 2: auction abbreviation for stampless. 3: souvenir cover. 4: Stamp Collecting, Great Britain publication. 5: Small Crown (British Watermark). 6: Scott Catalogue. 7: South Carolina, pre-adhesive postmark.
SC: Supreme Court, South Australia official overprint, 1868-74.
sc.: (Lat.) signifying the stamp's artist
S.c: small crown, watermark.
SCADS: Stamp Collectors Against Dodgy Sellers; formed in 2002 to educate collectors about fakes, forgeries, etc.
S.C.A.D.T.A.: Sociedad Colombo-Alemana de Transportes Aéros; (Sp.) a South American air line which issued private stamps until 1932; 1928, Aug. 28 - Dec.27, 1930: private air firm under government contract had their own stamps to show the airmail fee, 1932: succeeded by Avianca.
Scale print: each color printed separately.
Scanalatura: (It.) ribbed.
Scandinavie: (Fr.) Scandinavia.
Scanning marks: refers to electric eye markings, dashes, guides, etc.
Scarab cancel: appears vaguely like a beetle.
Scarab seal: see seal, scarab.
Scarce Plate Number: a plate number that had a limited printing.
Scarpanto: overprint on stamps of Italy, offices in Scarpanto, Aegean Islands; 1912-32
Scarpanto: Dodecanese Island, Aegean Sea 1912 - pre: used stamps of Turkey, 1912: No.1, 2 centesimi orange brown, overprint on stamps of Italy, offices in Scarpanto, 1920: Turkey ceded group to Italy, 1943, Sept.: became part of Greece, 1943: reoccupied by German forces, 1945: liberated by Allied forces, 1945, May 21: stamps of Britain overprinted “M.E.F.” (Middle East Forces), when islands transferred to Greece, 1946, April 17: British post offices closed, 1947: stamps of Greece overprinted “S.D.D.” (Dodecanese Military Occupation), 1947, summer: stamps of Greece used.
SCCS: Space City Cover Society.
Sceau: (Fr.) seal.
Sceau d'Noël: (Fr.) Christmas seal.
Scenic cancellation: Japanese postmark with a graphical representation of a geographical or historical design of cultural significance to the community in which the post office is located.
Scented stamps: Luxembourg had the scent of cinnamon on the selvage of panes of its 2002 Christmas stamp issue.
SCF: Stamp Collector's Fortnightly (Great Britain).
Sch: (Schilling) currency in German States
Schabatz, S.S.: steamship marking of the Danube Steam Navigation Company built around 1870s, for middle Danube lines.
Schach: (Ger.) chess (thematic).
Schaden: (Ger.) defect, damage.
Schädliche Ausgabe: (Ger.) issued mainly to exploit the collector.
Schalterbogen: (Ger.) pane of stamps as sold by the post office.
Schätzpreis: (Ger.) see Estimated value.
Schätzung: (Ger.) appraisal.
Scheetz's Celebrated Bitter Cordial: U.S. private die medicine proprietary stamp.
Schenck & Son: U.S. private die medicine proprietary stamp.
Schenck's Mandrake Pills: U.S. private die medicine proprietary stamp.
Schenck's Pulmonic Syrup: U.S. private die medicine proprietary stamp.
Schermack Company: Schermack Mailing Machine Co., Detroit, Mich., type of interrupted perforation to permit feeding through automatic vending machines. manufacturer of stamp vending machines, 1906-26, to be used with its machine that sealed envelopes and affixed stamps to them; perforations noted for their distinctive long slots.
Schermack perfin: made a series of nine pin holes in US 1908 series postage stamps perforated by Schermack Co. as a security device for its customers against pilferage by dishonest employees; missing pin holes stood for a code assigned to each firm..
Schernikow die proofs: die proofs or essays printed from the original master dies for the 1861 and 1871 issues; printed in ten colors on proof paper, colored card stock and pelure papers; dies acquired by Ernest Schernikow when Philadelphia Bank Note Company went bankrupt; he created "breakdown die proofs" in order to produce a series of prints showing the development of the design; also known as "breakdown die proofs."
Schiavi Press: Multi-Color Corp., subcontractor for American Bank Note Co., prints 19 rows of 36 stamps.
Scientific Expedition stamps: official and unofficial stamps created specially for the use of expeditions.
Schiff: (Ger.) ship.
Schiffpost: (Ger.) ship post.
Schiffsbrief: (Ger.) ship letter
Schilling: currency unit in Austria, old German states.
Schlesien: (Ger.) Silesia.
Schleswig: 1920s: mourning plebiscite label issued by German stamp dealer Sigmund Hartig.
Schleswig-Holstein: northern Germany, German state; currency: 100 pfennig = 1 mark, 100 ore = 1 krone, 16 schillings = 1 mark 1848-51: autonomous territory, 1864-pre: placed under Danish rule, 1850, Nov. 15: No.1, 1 schilling dull blue, greenish blue, first stamps by revolutionary government, protesting Danish rule, used circle design of bars as postmark, 1851, May 1: Danish rule, Danish stamps used in Schleswig, withdrawn March 31, 1864, 1853, July 1: Danish rule, Danish stamps used in Holstein, withdrawn Feb, 29, 1864, 1864, Aug. 1: Denmark defeated by Prussia and Austria, Schleswig and Holstein each issued own stamps, 1865: combined Duchies issue for both territories, but individual duchies issued own stamps, 1865, Nov.1: Schleswig awarded to Prussia, Holstein to Austria, 1866: Prussia defeated Austria, took over both territories, became province of Prussia, 1866, Nov. Schleswig and Holstein stamps could be used in either duchy, 1868, Jan.1: stamps of the North German Confederation, 1871: stamps of the German Empire, 1920, Jan. 25: stamps inscribed “Slesvig Plebiscit” followed by “1 Zone” and “C.I.S” Commission Interalliee Slesvig, as a result of the plebiscite, North Schleswig became part of Denmark, south Schleswig remaining part of Germany, one set of stamps in German currency and another with values in Danish currency issued, 1920, Jan. 25: No.1, 2 ½ pfennigs gray, 1920s: mourning plebiscite label issued by German stamp dealer Sigmund Hartig. 1920: first official stamp, 1920, July 9: stamps withdrawn from northern zone, replaced with stamps of Denmark.
Schleswig Zone 1: Northern zone, to Denmark; 1920 Scott Schleswig 15-28
Schleuderflugpost: (Ger.) catapult mail.
Schliersee: city in Germany, local post; 1918-23
Schlitz: (Ger.) slit.
Schloss: (Ger.) castle.
Schmalrandig: (Ger.) with narrow margins.
Schmetterling: (Ger.) butterfly (thematic).
Schmitt & Schmittdiel: see Private die match proprietary stamps.
Schmölin: city in Germany, (Express-Packet-Beförderung) local post; 1891.
Schnittmarkierung: (Ger.) guide line printed on sheets for separation into panes.
Schöenebeck/Elbe: city in Germany, (Privatstadtbrief-Beförderung Courier) local post 1895-1900
Schololaden: (Ger.) chocolate (color).
Schön: (Ger.) fine.
Schönfalz: (Ger.) peelable hinge.
Schongau: displaced persons camp, German, 1946
School stamps: private adhesive stamps used by schools for service payment to and from nearby post offices.
Schottland: (Ger.) Scotland.
Schránka: see Postovní schránka (shránky).
Schriftstempel: (Ger.) script cancel.
Schrifttum: (Ger.) literature.
Schriftverkehr: (Ger.) correspondence.
Schroeter Local Post: see Bergen - F. Schroeter Local Post.
Schutzaufdruck: (Ger.) burelage.
Schutzgebiet: (Ger.) protectorate, colony.
Schutzgebietdruck: (Ger.) colony overprint.
Schwaan: city in Germany, (Privat-Post) local post; 1899-1900
Schwacher bug: (Ger.) slight crease.
Schwach Gestempelt: (Ger.) lightly cancelled.
Schwaren: unit of currency in the German state of Oldenburg.
Schwartz, J. E. & Co.: U.S. private die medicine proprietary stamp.
Schwarz: (Ger.) black (color).
Schwarzdruck: (Ger.) black printing.
Schwarzenberg: city in Germany, local post; 1945
Schweden: (Ger.) Sweden.
Schweiz: (Dan., Ger., Nor., Swed.) Switzerland.
Schweizer Post.Vaduz: inscription on local stamp issued by Vaduz municipal council, 1918, to frank mail from Liechtenstein to Sevelen, Switzerland.
Schweizer Reneke: town, southwest of Pretoria, in the Transvaal; 1900, Aug.1- Jan. 9, 1901: town where stamps of Transvaal, and colony of Cape of Good Hope were handstamped "Beseiged" by British troops.
Schweizisk: (Dan., Nor., Swed.) Swiss.
Schwer Gestempelt: (Ger.) heavily cancelled.
Schwerete: city in Germany, local post ((Private-Brief-Verkehr) 1887-88
Schwindelmarke: (Ger.) bogus stamp.
Scinde: province of Sind in India; 1850: system of camel mail riders introduced, 1852, July 1: established July 1, 1852; using horses and camels, the governor of Sind, established a system of prepaid letter service, stampscalled "Scinde Dawks," 1853: the Indian government took over the postal operation for the entire country 1854, Oct. postal service was discontinued; it is now Pakistan.
Scinde District Dawk: first issue of India; India-Scinde District Post.
Scio: city in Egypt (Ottoman Empire); 1868, see Interpostal seals.
Sciupato: (It.) damaged.
SCM: Stamp Collector's Magazine.
Scolorito: (It.) faded (color).
Scooter Messengers: United Kingdom postal strike; local post 1971.
Scotland: 1840: British stamps valid for postage throughout Great Britain, 1958, Aug. 18: regional stamps inscribed "Postage Revenue," except for Machin issues which includes the "Lion of Scotland."
Scotland local cancellations: undated name stamps used at small post offices from 1854 to 1860.
Scott Catalogue: American based stamp catalogs of the world.
Scott Catalogue number: number assigned to a philatelic item by Scott editors according to that publisher's criteria for such assignment.
Scottish Lion: national symbol of Scotland used in upper right-hand corner of stamps from Scotland.
Scott's Express: local railroad and steamboat baggage delivery serviced Jersey City, N.J., used a label, year unknown.
Scout Post: postal services operated by the scouts, usually in periods of emergency; Mafeking, Prague, Warsaw Ghetto Rising.
Scouts Fund: overprint on stamps of Siam; semipostal.
Scovell, Hezekiah W.: postmaster, Lockport, N.Y., 1846, used oval handstamp as Postmasters' Provincial.
Scovill, A.L. & Co.: U.S. private die medicine proprietary stamp.
SCR: Stamp Collector's Review (Great Britain).
Scrambled indicia: name given to hidden encoded imagery used on U. S. stamps; see Decoder, Encoded Designs; Stamp decoder.
Scrape: an abrasion of the stamp surface which removes or moves paper fiber.
Scratchboard: technique in stamp production that looks like traditional line engraving.
Screened Tagging: made of thin lines, or a dot pattern that appears to be lines, when seen with low magnification.
Screw press: press pressure applied by turning of a screw-threaded bar.
Scrim envelopes: Palestine Postal Authority scrim-lined linen envelopes ordered in 1921
Script: a type-face resembling handwriting.
Scrisorei: Romania Moldavia-Wallachia.
Scroll: 1: curved device located within frame of some stamps. 2: British postmark with a curved name panel instead of the circular date stamp. 3: nickname for scroll with word "Canada" at the top of each design, starting August 1928..
Scudo: currency unit in the Roman States.
Scum: colored flaw.
Scutari di Albania: (Town of Albania) northern part of Albania; 1479-1913: under Turkish rule, 1909-16: No.1, 10 paras on 5c green, “Scutari di Albania” surcharge on stamps of Italy in Turkish currency, Offices in Turkey, 1914: “Scutari-Skadar” postmark on stamps of Montenegro and Albania, 1918-19: occupied by Allied forces, fiscal stamps of Austria overprinted “Posta Shkodres Shqypnis,” see Italian Offices in Turkish Empire.
Scutit de taxe postale: (Rom.) post-free.
SCV: Scott Catalog Value.
SD: 1: USPS abbreviation for South Dakota. 2: topical association abbreviation for stamp design. 3: small date variation on U.S. stamps. 4. international postal code for Swaziland; 4: Haiti provisional overprint. 5: Stamp Duty; Hong Kong fiscal overprint, 1891.
S.D.C.: (Sp.) Santo Domingo de la Calzada, pre-adhesive postmark.
S.D.D.: (Gr.) Stratiotiki Dioikisis Dodecanissou (Military Administration of the Dodecanese Islands) overprint on stamps of Greece for Rhodes and the Dodecanese, Mar. 31, 1947.
SdeB: Samuel DeBinder, BEP employees initials, 1906-1928; see Plate Finisher, Siderographer.
S.D.N.: (Fr.) Société des Nations (League of Nations); overprint on stamps of Switzerland.
S.d.N. Bureau International du Travail: International Labor Bureau, overprint on stamps of Switzerland, official.
SDO: Stamp Distribution Office; suppliers of U.S. stamps for either philatelic or standard sales.
SE: 1: Straight edge. 2: watermark on stamps of Ireland are the initials of "Saorstat Eireann" (Irish Free State). 3: precedes the European postal code on addresses in Sweden, such as SE-532 Skara.
Seabury & Johnson: U.S. private die medicine proprietary stamp.
Sea Floor Bahamas: cancel on mail posted in the bathysphere at the bottom of the sea in Nassau Marine Garden, Aug. 1939.
Sea horses: nickname for the British King George V high value stamps of 1913-34.
Sea Islands: bogus, labels, year, source unknown
Seal: 1: an ornamental paper stamp, such as a Christmas seal; a cinderella. 2: a design, initial or other device placed on a document or letter as a signature or proof of authenticity. 3: letter seals of Egypt, 1932, for use by British forces in Egypt for lower rate on letters to G.B; replaced in 1936 by the "Army Post" stamps.
Sealand: Great Britain fantasy country, made from abandoned WW II concrete platform made into kingdom; source unknown.
Seal, charity: Christmas and Easter seals, not valid for postage.
Seal, dead letter: seal used to seal letters that were opened to find a forwarding address.
Seal, disinfection: letter was opened in the disinfection center, exposed to sulfur fumes and re- sealed with an official seal confirming that the mail piece received this disinfection treatment.
Sealed coil: a full roll of coil stamps that is in the original condition as sold at the post office.
Seal, lead: lead used to "seal" a letter into which was pressed the sender's distinctive mark; high government officials used lead as the sealant
Seal, letter: usually round, may be embossed; used by government departments and private firms as a form of advertising.
Seal, official: U.S. Post Office Department, in 1877, used official seals to reseal undeliverable letters; they do not pay postage.
Seal, registry: used to seal registered mail.
Seal, scarab: seal carvings engraved on the flat surface of stone scarabs, the emblem of the sacred beetle, and used as rings or fitted into handles and used to impress sealing wax on papyrus as authentication of a message.
Seal, wafer: In 13th century Venice, messages were folded and tied with string; the string ends were adhered to the letter with a blob of sealing wax, overlaid with a small piece of paper, called a wafer, this was inserted into a rudimentary form of a press, which then sealed the paper into the seal attached to the letter.
Seal, wax: formerly, molten wax "sealed" a letter into which was pressed the sender's distinctive seal.
Sea Mail: paquebot marking.
Seapost: operations and markings of governmental postal employees operating a post office aboard a seagoing ship on a route where a fixed schedule is maintained.
Search fee: New York City postmaster held mail addressed to countries that were invaded by Germany in WW II, advertised in newspapers that for a fee, based on time, held mail would be searched for letters which senders wanted returned; postage due stamps were affixed to the letters when returned to sender.
Seasonal gum: gum formula calculated to make the gum resistant to the weather and atmospheric conditions.
Seasons Greetings: U.S. undenominated stamp, valued 20¢, placed on sale Oct. 28, 1981.
Seaway Invert: variety of the 1959 issue printed upside down.
Seaway Issue: The St. Lawrence Seaway issue of Canada; famous because of inverted center.
Sebastopol: bogus Ukranian local overprint.
Secap: Societé d'Etudes et de Construction d'Appareils de Précision (Fr.) French postage meter firm, 1994.
Secheresse Solidarite Africane: (Fr.) overprint on stamps of Gabon, 1973, for African solidarity in drought emergency.
Secondaire (Collection): (Fr.) sideline or secondary (collection).
Second Bureau Issue: second set of definitive stamps issued by the BEP, 1902.
Second Class Mail: former name of Periodicals-Class Mail.
Second Day: ceremony conducted by postal officials on the day after stamp issuance, in locations different than the first day of issue city.
Second day cover: cover postmarked on the day following the First Day of Issue; popular in the 1940s when the stamps were available at the Philatelic Agency in Washington, DC on the second day.
Second issue: replacement for first issues of U.S. revenue stamps, slightly different than first issue; most printed with blue frames and black vignettes; 1871.
Second Issue revenues: enacted Dec. 25, 1862, where any type of stamp could be used to indicate the prepayment of any U.S. tax, featured state seal medallions for the engraved central designs.
Secours: "Relief" used on stamps of Saudi Arabia semipostals.
Secours aux Refugies: "refugee relief" inscription, with airlaine, on 1925-31 stamps of Syria.
Secours aux Victims de la Guerre: "Relief for victims of the war" inscription on stamps of Haiti semipostals.
Secours Guerche: inscription on postal tax stamp, Saudi Arabia.
Secours National: (Fr.) (National Relief) overprint on stamps of French Colonies semipostals.
Secret mark: 1: identification mark, not easily seen in the stamp design. 2: marks placed on dies of U.S. stamps which the National bank Note Co. turned over to its successor, the Continental Bank Note Co, in 1873.
Sector: the sixth and seventh digits of a ZIP + 4 code; it is a geographic portion of a ZIP Code area or a rural route, several blocks or a large building, part of a post office box section, or an official designation; see Segment.
Sécurité (papier de): (Fr.) safety (paper).
Security overprint: applied to a stamp with the specific purpose of discouraging forgery.
Security paper: various types of paper used to prevent stamp counterfeiting.
Security Services: United Kingdom postal strike; local post 1971.
Security watermark: used to guard against postal misuse.Sedang: fantasy stamp of Annam Kingdom; IndoChina, 1899; by Marie David de Mayrena, considered a classic bogus issue.
Sedá: (Czech.) grey (color).
Sedavi: city in Spain, local post, Spanish Civil War, Republican forces, 1937
Sedella: city in Spain, local post, Spanish Civil War, Nationalist forces, 1937
Sede vacante: vacant see , period between the death of an religious ruler and appointment of his successor; Vatican City overprint, inscription.
Sedfa: city in Egypt; 1884, see Interpostal seals.
Sedocerná: (Czech.) grey-black (color).
Sedofiolová: (Czech.) grey-violet, grey-purple (color).
Sedohnedá: (Czech.) grey-brown (color).
Sedomodrá: (Czech.) grey-blue (color).
Sedoolivová: (Czech.) grey-olive (color).
Sedozelená: (Czech.) grey-green (color).
Seebecks: a nickname given to certain issues of Ecuador (1892-96), Honduras (1890-99), Nicaragua (1890-99) and Salvador (1890-99). Nicholas Frederick Seebeck, as agent for the Hamilton Bank Note Company, printed stamps for these countries at no charge in exchange for the right to sell remainders and reprints to stamp collectors.
Seedorf: displaced person camp, Germany; 1946.
Seelye, Dr. D. H. & Co.: U.S. private die medicine proprietary stamp.
Seepost stempel: (Ger.) sea mail cancel.
Se faner: (Fr.) faded (color).
Sefkat Pullari: Turkey postal tax.
Segment: the eighth and ninth digits of a ZIP + 4 code; a specific block , apartment house bank of boxes, a firm, a floor in a large building, or other specific location; see Sector.
Segnatasse: (It.) "Sign Tax" postage due stamps of Italian Colonies, Italy, San Marino, Vatican; 1863-69.
Segno di Controllo: (It.) control mark.
Segno di garanzia: (It.) marking applied to stamps by the issuing agency indicting that the stamp is genuine and valid for postal use; also "expert's mark."
Segno segreto: (It.) secret identification mark, not easily seen in the stamp design.
Segorbe: city in Spain, local post, Spanish Civil War, Republican forces, 1937
Segovia: city in Spain, local post, Spanish Civil War, Nationalist forces 1936-38
Seguis: (Sp.) applied to forgeries produced by Sr. Segui.
Segunda Republica: (Sp.) The 2nd Spanish Republic of 1931.
Seguro Postal: (Sp.) 'Safe Post' inscription on stamps of Mexico for insured letter stamps.
Seguro Social del Campesino: (Sp.) 'Social and Rural Workers Insurance Fund' overprint on Ecuador postal tax stamps.
Seid eining, einig, einig!: (Ger.) 'Be One, One, One' inscription on Germany stamp as propaganda for union of North and South Germany, 1900.
Seidenfaden: (Ger.) silk thread.
Seite: (Ger.) side, page.
Seiyun, Kathiri State of: see Aden.
Sejm Wilnie: (Lith.) inscription on stamps of Central Lithuania (Litwa Srodkowa) for opening of national parliament at Vilna, 1922.
Sejour: residence permit; French Colonies revenue inscription
Sekajoe: local overprint; Japanese occupation Palembang district, Sumatra; 1942-45.
Seks: (Dan., Nor.) six (number).
Seksstripe: (Nor.) strip-of-6.
Seksten: (Dan.) sixteen (number).
Seksti: (Nor.) sixty (number).
Selangor: Malaya; on west coast of the Malay Peninsula; 1878: No.1, 2¢ brown, an overprint on stamps of Straits Settlements,”S” in a circle, stamps were for local postage only; used in combination with stamps of Straits Settlements for overseas mail until 1891, 1881: Selangor inscribed in stamps, 1895: joined the Federated Malay States, 1900: used Federated Malay States issues, 1935, Dec. 2: name Malaya used on stamps, 1942, May-1945: Japanese characters and “Dai Nippon 2062 Malaya” and “Dai Nippon Yubin” (Japanese Postal Service 1942) overprint, 1942-48: stamp shortage caused stamps of Selanger to be used in other states, 1948, Dec. 1: first stamp, 1949, Sept. 12: first definitive, 1957: stamps of the Malayan Federation used along with those of Selanger, 1963, Sept.: became part of the new Federation of Malaysia, 1965, Nov. 15: used designs of Johore, inscribed Selangor, on stamps of Malaysia.
Selantan: South Moluccas (unrecognized issue).
Selbstklebende marken: (Ger.) self-adhesive stamps.
Selbstklebepostkarte: (Ger.) self-adhesive postcard; see Folded Business Card.
Selective block tagging: untagged area on printed stamps permits the cancellation ink to permeate the stamp paper to help prevent illegal use.
Self-adhesive stamp (S/A): adhesive on stamp back that does not have to be moistened to adhere to paper, also known as pressure sensitive adhesives (PSA); stay tacky at room temperature and require a silicone coated paper to facilitate their use, do not require licking to activate, first used by Sierra Leone on Feb. 10, 1964, US in 1974.
Self Government 1947: overprint on stamps of Malta to commemorate the granting of the constitution in 1947.
Self-service: term applied to covers that have been serviced, such as getting own cancels, applying stamps, etc., by collectors themselves.
Self-service registration stamps: German Democratic Republic issued registration labels with a fee for special handling, 1967-68.
Seller's commission: pre-determined commission or fee deducted from the final price of the lot and kept by the auctioneer as part of the commission for selling the lot.
Selling Price: the price a seller can realize from the sale of a philatelic item.
Sello: (Sp.) 1: postage stamp. 2: seal (philatelic).
Sello 10 A 1896Y97: overprint or alone on stamps of Fernando Po for revenue use.
Sello aéreo: (Sp.) airmail stamp.
Sello ano 100: (Sp.) jubilee (century).
Sello commemorativo: (Sp.) commemorative stamp.
Sello da Tasa: (Sp.) postage due.
Sello de Admisión: (Sp.) admission stamp.
Sello de Aviso de Recibo: (Sp.) stamp issued as a prepayment fee as an acknowledgment of receipt of a registered package.
Sello de beneficencia: (Sp.) charity, or semi-postal stamp.
Sello de certificado: (Sp.) registration stamp.
Sello de Ciudad Postal: (Sp.) city post stamp.
Sello de Correo Aéreo Semioficial: (Sp.) issued privately, but accepted by the postal agency. "Buffalo Balloon" stamp is an example.
Sello de Correo Carlista: (Sp.) Carlist stamp of Spain.
Sello de correos de campaña: (Sp.) field post stamp.
Sello de corro maritimo: (Sp.) ships post.
Sello de Cuoto tardio: (Sp.) late fee stamp indicating payment of a special fee for forwarding a mail piece after the regular mail has been closed; also known as supplementary mail.
Sello de derechos consulares: (Sp.) consular fee stamp; Tangiers, 1939 with overprint.
Sello de devolucion: (Sp.) stamp used in fee payment for the return of an undelivered letter.
Sello de entraga autorizaro por paquetes postales: (Sp.) authorized deliverystamp, parcel post
Sello de entrage autorizaro por carta: (Sp.) authorized delivery stamp, correspondence.
Sello de franqueo insuficiente: (Sp.) postage due stamp.
Sello de giro (postal): (Sp.) money order stamp.
Sello de guerra: (Sp.) war stamp, stamp issued during war conditions.
Sello de impuesto: (Sp.) tax stamp.
Sello de Navidad: (Sp.) Christmas seal.
Sello de Recargo: (Sp.) stamp used in payment of postal tax in addition to normal postage.
Sello de Urgencia: (Sp.) special delivery stamp.
Sello encapsulado: (Sp.) encased postage stamp.
Sello falso: (Sp.) forgery.
Sello fiscal: (Sp.) revenue stamp.
Sello negro: (Sp.) handstamp with arms of Castille & Leon on official letters in earl 18th century.
Sello para cartas retardadas: (Sp.) too late stamp.
Sello para Periódicos: (Sp.) newspaper stamp.
Sello pegado al sobre: (Sp.) stamp on cover.
Sello Postal: overprint on demonitzed issues of Nicaragua to validate issue for use.
Sello tipo: (Sp.) definitive stamp.
Sellos de Correos-Resena Historica: (Sp.) private issue, Spain, by A. Duro, 1881.
Sellos sobre fragmento: (Sp.) stamps on piece.
Selma, Ala.: see Confederate States of America, 3¢ 1861 Postmasters' Provisionals.
Selma, Ala. Paid 5: see Confederate Postmasters' Provisionals.
S.E. Local Post: United Kingdom postal strike; local post 1971.
Selten: (Ger.) rare, scarce.
Selvage (Selvedge): the unprinted paper on the edge or margin of a sheet of stamps.
Selwyn College: local, United Kingdom, Cambridge, 1882.
Sembellawin: city in Egypt; 1879-84, see Interpostal seals.
Semblable: (Fr.) similar.
Sem denteaçâo: (Port.) imperforate.
Semenov, Gen.: stamps of Russia surcharged under general's occupation.
Semeuse camée: (Fr.) sower on solid background.
Semeuse lignée: (Fr.) sower on lined background.
Semi-gloss gum: moisture activated stamp adhesive; displays a moderate degree of light reflection, aka Low Gloss or Satin Gum.
Semi-imperforate: a stamp that has at least one imperforate side and one side with perforations. See Imperforate and Fully imperforate.
Semi-official: stamps used in connection with private postal use, but having official sanction such as the railway letter fee stamps of England, or the U.S. Buffalo Balloon covers where their delivery started in a private balloon and taken to the nearest post office where it continued on to its destination courtesy of the U.S. Mails.
Semi-official air mail stamp: private firms operating air services carried mail and some issued their own private labels to indicate payment of the air mail fee; in addition to the normal postage as indicated on government postage stamp.
Semipostal: an additional monetary value, called a surcharge, devoted to a specific non-postal purpose such as the Red Cross; the surcharge has no postal validity and is usually separated from the official postal value with a "+" sign, aka Charity Stamps.
Semlin, S.S.: steamship marking of the Danube Steam Navigation Company built around 1840s, for middle Danube lines.
Sen: currency unit in Indonesia, Japan, Malaya, Malaysia, Ryukyu Islands and West Irian.
Señal de charnela: (Sp.) hinge mark.
Senalguacil: city in Spain, local post, Spanish Civil War, Nationalist forces, 1937
Senant: city in Spain, local post, Spanish Civil War, Republican forces, 1937.
Sendung: (Ger.) sending, consignment.
Sene: unit of currency in Western Samoa.
Senegal: west coast of Africa, bordering on the Atlantic Ocean; official name of postal administration: La Poste currency: 100 centimes = 1 CFA franc 1859: used French Colonies General Issues with lozenge of dots reading “GOR” or “SEN,” 1887: No.1, 5 centimes on 20¢ red, French rule, stamps for the French colonial general issue surcharged, 1892: Commerce and Navigation stamps inscribed “Senegal & Dependances,” 1903: first postage due stamp, 1906 Upper Senegal and Niger, 1915: first semipostal stamp, 1924: Dakar made a special territory, 1935: stamps just used name “Senegal;” first air mail stamp, 1939: first air mail semipostal stamps, 1943: former French colony of Senegal became part of French West Africa, stamps of Senegal surcharged for use there, 1944-1959: used the stamps of French West Africa, 1946: Dakar reunited with Senegal, 1958, Nov. 25: Republic of Senegal established, 1959, April 4-June 20, 1960: united with the Sudanese Republic to form Mali Federation, 1960, Aug. 20: became Republic of Senegal, Sudanese Republic stayed as the Mali Federation, Senegal resumed issuing its own stamps, 1961, Sept. 18: first official stamp, 1961, June 14: joined the U.P.U.; 1981, Dec.: Senegal agreed to merge with the Gambia to form Senegambia; see French Sudan, Senegambia and Niger.
Senegal Gum: gum from the acacia plant, shrub or tree collected in the Senegal district.
Senegal, Upper and Niger: 1903-pre: stamps of French Sudan, 1904: French West Africa colony established to replace Senegambia and Niger, 1906-14: first stamps inscribed "Haut Senegal et Niger," postmarks read "Ht Senegal et Niger," and in Niger "Territoire Militaire du Niger," 1920: stamps overprinted for French Sudan when name changed.
Senegal, Upper and Niger: Northwest Africa; 1903-pre: stamps of French Sudan, 1904: French West Africa colony established to replace Senegambia and Niger, 1906: No.1, 1 centimes slate, first stamps inscribed “Haut Senegal et Niger,” postmarks read “Ht Senegal et Niger,” and in Niger “Territoire Militaire du Niger,” 1906: postage due stamp issued, 1915: semipostal stamp issued, 1921:issues for French Sudan resumed, stamps overprinted, 1933: part of Upper Volta added; see French Sudan, Mali, Federation of.
Senegambia: 1982, Feb.1.: Republic of Senegal and The Gambia merged.
Senegambia and Niger: French administrative unit for the Senegal and Niger possessions in Africa; now Republic of Mali, currency: 100 centimes = 1 franc 1903-pre: used stamps of French Sudan, 1903, July: No.1, 1 centime black, Commerce and Navigation key type inscribed “Senegambie et Niger,” 1904: became part of the French Sudan; name changed to Upper Senegal and Niger; stamps inscribed “Haut-Sénégal-Niger,” 1920: colony became French Sudan, later the Republic of Mali,1930-36: used French keytypes; see Niger.
Senegambie et Niger: (Fr.) Senegambia and Niger, 1903.
Sengi: currency unit in Zaire.
Senit: currency unit in Tonga.
Sennar: city in Egypt; 1879-80, see Interpostal seals.
Sennett Security Products: printer of U.S. postage stamps.
Sensitized paper: stamp paper covered with a light-sensitive mixture, used for the siege of Mafeking, 1900.
Sent: currency unit in Estonia.
Sentimo: currency unit it the Philippines.
Sentrering: (Nor.) centering.
Senza gomma: (It.) ungummed.
Senza linguella: (It.) hingeless.
S.E.O.F.: (It.) Servizio Estero Oltre Frontiera (Foreign Service Beyond Border) pre-adhesive postmark.
Seoul: also known as Soul, South Korea.
Sep(s): separation(s)
Separated: torn apart by separating the perforations; Abgetrennt (Ger.)
Separations: the method employed in which stamps are separated from one another; perforations are a form of separations.
Séparé: (Fr.) severed. (Independence)
Sepia: (Eng., Ger., Fr., Sp.) dark reddish-brown color.
Sepia die (inspection) proof: French-area countries proof printed in sepia color only; made on thinner paper than artist die proofs and contain only a single stamp impression, with three hole punches (diamond, crescent, diamond).
Seppia: (It.) dark reddish-brown color.
Septembrie: (Rom.) September.
Serapoum: city in Egypt; 1868-71, see Interpostal seals.
Serbes: overprint on France for Serbia, 1916-18.
Serbia and Montenegro: southeast Europe, between Albania, Bosnia and Herzegoovina; Currency: 100 heller = 1 krone, 1 dinar = 100 paras (Serbia), Euro (Montenegro) 1866: No.1, 1 para dark green, depicting coat of arms, stamps issued as Principality of Serbia, 1874: Serbia was an original member of the General Postal Union, 1875, July 1: joined the UPU, 1878: Became independent of Turkey, 1882: Kingdom declared, 1895: First postage due stamp, 1911: First newspaper stamp, 1912-1913: Balkan War: Annexed territories used regular Serbian stamps, 1914: Serb nationalist assassinated Archduke Franz Ferdinand in Sarajevo, start of WWI, 1915-1918: First World War - occupied by Austria-Hungary and Bulgaria, Austria used stamps of Bosnia overprinted “Serbien,” 1916-1918: Serbian Government in Exile on Corfu, used French stamps overprinted “Postes Serbes,” applied after stamps were on a cover, 1918: Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes formed, 1919, May 5: overprinted stamps used in occupied Baranya, Hungary, 1919, May 10: overprinted stamps used in occupied Temesvar, Hungary, 1919: Serbia combined with Montenegro, Bosnia - Herzegovina, Croatia, Dalmatia and Slovenia to form the Kingdom of Yugoslavia, 1920: Stamps of Yugoslavia used, 1921, Dec. 24: rejoined the UPU as Kingdom of Serbs, Croates and Slovenes, 1929, Oct. 3: name officially changed to Yugoslavia, rejoined the UPU; 1941: Yugoslavia invaded by the Axis powers, Serbia occupied by Germany, stamps of Yugoslavia overprinted “Serbien,” 1941, Sept. 22: first occupation semipostal stamp, 1941: first occupation air mail, postage due stamps, 1943: first occupation official stamp, 1945: Socialist Republic of Yugoslavia proclaimed; consists of Serbia, Montenegro, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Macedonia, 1991: disintegration of Yugoslavia; remaining area known as Federal Republic of Yugoslavia consisting of Serbia & Montenegro, Macedonia, 1992: Bosnia and Herzegovina declared its independence, Serbia and Montenegro declared itself as Federal Republic of Yugslavia, 1998: province of Kosovo in Serbia revolted, 2001, June 18: rejoined the UPU as Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Kosovo governed by U.N. Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UMIK)., 2003, Feb. 4: rejoined the UPU as Federation of Serbia & Montenegro, 2003, Apr. 3: first stamps from new republic, 2003, Aug. 27: first stamps with two currencies, dinar and euro; see Bosnia and Herzegovina
Serbian Occupation of Hungary: 1919: stamps of Hungary overprinted for use in Baranya, stamps of Hungary surcharged for use in Temesvar.
Serbie: (Fr.) Serbia.
Serbien: 1. (Dan., Ger., Swed.) Serbia.
2. overprint on stamps of Bosnia and Herzegovina for Austrian Occupation, World War 1. 3. overprint on stamps of Yugoslavia, German Occupation of Serbia, 1941.
Serbienisk: (Dan.) Serbian.
Serbisk: (Dan., Nor., Swed.) Serbian.
Serbmit Sirap a Yruam: Timbres Maury a Paris, backwards, inscription on labels of a stamp dealer.
Serbs, Croats and Slovenes, Kingdom of the: Yugoslavia 1-62 1921-28
Serbska: Serbian held Bosnia; 1992.
Serge Beaune: multi color printing principle of Giori and similar presses.
Serie: (Czech., Fr., It., Sp., Swed.) set, series.
Serienstempel: (Ger.) machine cancel.
Serial number: postal administration method of control and checking stamp issue; usually applied in margins or on labels; also used on registration labels or other methods for recorded delivery.
Series: a set of stamps with various denominations such as the National Parks issue, may be released to or added to over a period of years.
Series of 1894: nickname; see First Bureau Issue.
Series of 1902: nickname; see Second Bureau Issue.
Series of 1908: nickname; see Washington-Franklins.
Series of 1922: nickname; see Fourth Bureau Issue.
Series of 1938: nickname; see Presidential Series (Prexies).
Serif type: type with an ornamental projection to one side of a letter, at top or bottom.
Seri Pervas, S.S.: steamship marking of the Danube Steam Navigation Company built 1839, for Levant lines; re-named Baron Stuermer, then Persia, built 1839.
Serpentine roulette: perforation as deep continuous S-shaped, looks like waves, cuts.
Serrated roulette: perforation as triangular cuts.
“Nations Unies Office Europeen” overprint on stamps of Switzerland.
