Philatelic Abbreviations
|
Abbreviation |
Definition |
| "u" or "o" | used |
| (sometimes o with dot in center) | |
| * | Mint Hinged |
| ** | Mint Never Hinged |
| adh | paper adhering to gum |
| attd | attached |
| bklt | booklet |
| blk | block |
| BOB | back of the book |
| btwn | between |
| CDS | circular date stamp postmark |
| cl | clipped |
| comm or commem | commemorative |
| CP | clipped perfs |
| cpl | complete |
| cor | corner |
| cr | crease |
| CTO | Cancelled to Order |
| ctr | center |
| CV | catalogue value |
| cxl | cancel |
| def or defin | definitive |
| DG | disturbed gum |
| EFO | Errors, Freaks & Oddities |
| engr | engraved |
| FDC | First Day Cover |
| flt (FLT) | fault |
| fox | brown edge staining also foxing |
| FV | face value |
| gtr | gutter |
| H | hinged |
| HH | heavily hinged |
| HM | hinge mark |
| horiz | horizontal |
| HR | hinge remnant |
| hvy | heavy |
| imp or imperf | imperforate |
| Lg | Large |
| LH | lightly hinged |
| LL | lower left |
| LP | line pair |
| LR | lower right |
| marg | margin |
| MH | Mint, Hinged |
| MHOG | Mint, Hinged, Original Gum |
| Mi | Michel (catalogue) |
| MLH | mint, lightly hinged |
| MM | mounted mint (British) |
| MNG | unused, no gum |
| MNH | mint, never hinged |
| MS | minature sheet |
| NG | no gum |
| NGAI | no gum as issued |
| NH | never hinged |
| OG | Original Gum |
| ovpt, or o/p | overprint(ed) |
| PB | plate block |
| perf | perforation |
| p## | perforated number (example, p13) |
| PH | pin hole |
| pl# | plate number |
| PM | Pencil Mark on back |
| pmk | postmark |
| POG | partial original gum |
| PP | pulled perfs |
| pr | pair |
| rep | repaired |
| RG | re-gummed |
| roul | rouletted |
| RC or R/C | Rounded Corner |
| SA, S/A or PSA | Self-Adhesive Stamp (ie. "Stickers") |
| Sc | Scott (catalogue) |
| scv | Scott Catalog Value |
| SE | straight edge |
| se-ten | se-tenant |
| selv | selvedge |
| SF | space filler |
| SG | Stanley Gibbons (catalogue) |
| sh | short |
| sl | slight |
| sm | small |
| sp | short perf |
| st | stain |
| sur. or surch. | surcharge |
| SS or S/S | souvenir sheet |
| t | tiny |
| th | thin |
| tone | toning, discoloration of gum or paper |
| tr | tear |
| UL | upper left |
| UMM | un-mounted mint (British) |
| unwmk | unwatermarked |
| UR | upper right |
| vert | vertical |
| VLH | very lightly hinged |
| WA or W/A | wettable adhesive (ie. "Stamps") |
| wmk | watermarked |
| w/ | with |
| w/o | without |
| Y & T | Yvert & Tellier (catalogue) |
