Philatelic Glossary

This glossary has been compiled from various different sources. Some of the terms have been reproduced with kind permission from the Stanley Gibbons Philatelic Terms Illustrated by James Mackay. If you think a term is missing please e-mail us.

Tombstone Cancel

Cancellation in the shape of a tombstone.

Toned Paper

Paper which is 'off white' especially with a brownish or buff tinge.

Too Late

Mark to explain reason for delay to mail, which has been posted too late to connect with the last despatch on that day.

Topical Collecting

Term used in USA for Thematic Collecting.

Toughra

The triple sign manual signature or paraph (q.v) of the former Sultan of Turkey.

Tourist Publicity Stamps

Stamps showing places of interest in the issuing country.

Tracking Labels

Labels with serial numbers and barcodes which enable details of any parcel or letters sent, for example, in the United Kingdom by the Royal Mail Special Delivery and Signed For services, to be traced subsequent to posting.

Tracking or Sorting Foreign Mail

Equipment which can trace and sort foreign mail.

Traffic Light

Colour dots printed in the sheet margin denoting each colour printed on a stamp.

Transfer

In stamp production by the Perkins Die and Mill process, designs are transferred from an intaglio engraved die to a roller die and from this to the printing plate.

Transfer Roller

In intaglio the steel roller which transfers the image from the master die to the plate using the "rocking in" technique.

Transit Postmark

A postmark applied to a cover at some point in its transmission between posting and delivery.

Translator

Computer device which translates postcode information into binary code to be printed on mail piece.

Transorma

A machine for sorting incoming mail for street delivery installed and used in the United Kingdom for mail to and from the Brighton area 1935-1968.

Transposed Subject

A rare error in which a subject or image for one printing plate is inserted by mistake into another.

Travelling Post Office

q.v Travelling Post Office.

Travelling Post Office (TPO)

Mobile Post Office usually on a train but sometimes in a bus or van. Usually have special cancellations.

Treasury Competition

In 1839 the British Treasury offered prizes of £200 and £100 for the best suggestions "as to the manner in which the projected new postage stamp might best be brought into use". Over 2,500 entries were received and four prizes of £100 were awarded, but none of the suggestions was put into use.

Treasury Essay

A proposed stamp design submitted in 1839 to the competition organised by the British Treasury.

Treasury Roulette

An experimental form of separation of line engraved postage stamps of Great Britain showing shallow waved edges with internal cuts applied by a revolving wheel with an independent circumference.

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