Why do they call the new sheets of stamps press sheets and not just a sheet of stamps? and the second question, I have USA Scott number 651 with a plate number on the selvage and it also has the letter F on the selvage as well, what does the letter F mean if anything?
Thank you for your help.
Carolee, on the first question, they COULD call them sheets instead of press sheets. They are identical in meaning to a philatelist, but probably not to marketing people.
Can't help you on the marginal markings. If Kim joins us, he can expound for days
David
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"Save the USPS, buy stamps; save the hobby, use commemoratives"
*Sheet - a unit of sheet stamps as produced on a printing press that is subdivided into panes. A sheet contains two or more panes. Early sheets contained two panes. Most 20th century sheets contained four panes. Modern sheets may contain six or more panes. Although there are exceptions, sheet stamps are generally sold to the public only in pane format, not in sheet format. In popular usage the term "sheet" is incorrectly used for a "pane."
"Press Sheets" versus "Sheets". I think it is like David stated.a marketing ploy by the post office to differentiate the normal stamps that it sells from those that it is producing in limited quantities and slightly different format, such as sheets of imperf stamps that you can special order versus the perforated sheets of the same stamp available at post offices.
Use of terminology in the hobby is often inconsistent. Terminology used among collectors in different countries can also be different. Sometimes you just have to look at what someone is talking about to see exactly what it is. That's the main reason why when people post questions about a stamp it is best to also include a picture of the stamp to make it easier for others to provide the correct answer.
"*Sheet - a unit of sheet stamps as produced on a printing press that is subdivided into panes. A sheet contains two or more panes. ... In popular usage the term "sheet" is incorrectly used for a "pane.""
It makes me think of the term souvenir sheets but these are not sheets according to this definition. I've also seen these called "sheetlets"; maybe that is the better term?
"Sometimes you just have to look at what someone is talking about to see exactly what it is. That's the main reason why when people post questions about a stamp it is best to also include a picture of the stamp to make it easier for others to provide the correct answer."
Per my use of terminology, a Legends of the West press sheet is on the left and a pane is on the right.
I always take press sheet to mean a sheet of stamps as they come off they printing presses rather than the possibly clever marketing ploy of intimating journalistic material.
vic
And we know by now that the press sheets that the USPS sells are not always a sheet as it comes off the press. There are some so-called press sheets that contain only 2 or 3 panes. I even have one "press sheet" where you can tell that it was cut down from a larger one by the slightly ragged edge on one side. Anyway, the terms are relative depending on who is using them.
Thank you all for your answers. According to tomiseksj I have stamp panes then. And the F on my stamp means fabulous to me
It is a beautiful stamp but I do not put stamps with selvage in my albums.
The Christmas Global Wreath had fairly ragged cut at the left and clear cuts at top, bottom and right. I'm guessing that the printed press sheet was a lot larger and cut down. Kinda like the USS Arizona - only 30 stamps per sold press sheet. I don't think it would be very economical to make plates that small.
A muggle walking into a post office asking for a sheet of stamps would get a pane of 20 rather than a booklet. Only us collectors would even be aware it could mean anything else.
Josh
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