Stamp Collecting Honor - advanced

Recreational Activities

Requirements

  1. Have the Stamp Collecting Honor.
  2. Know the meaning of the following terms:
    • Postmark
    • Perfin
    • Block
    • Template
    • Pre-stamped
    • Distinctive Mark
    • Watermark
    • Tongs

    Answer: 1) Cancellation: a mark applied over the stamp to cancel it (render it unusable after use), usually indicating place and date. 2) Perfin: a stamp with small holes that form initials or symbols, used by companies and agencies to prevent theft. 3) Block: a set of stamps printed together on a special sheet, with a decorated margin and a common theme. 4) Die (cliché): the matrix used to print the stamps. 5) Precanceled: a stamp already canceled in the printing itself, intended for mass correspondence, doing away with a later cancellation. 6) Characteristic mark: a detail that identifies a specific issue or printing. 7) Watermark: a design printed in the paper, visible against the light, used as a means of authenticity. 8) Tongs: a tool designed for handling stamps without touching them with the fingers, avoiding damage and grease. — These terms are the vocabulary of the philatelist — knowing how to identify them is essential for collecting and evaluating stamps.

  3. Display at least 16 pages at a stamp exhibition of the Club. The stamps must be presented in an artistic way, with labels to classify each one of them, demonstrating careful research.
  4. Make a collection of 750 stamps with at least 50 stamps for each foreign country; a minimum of 5 foreign countries.
  5. Cite 2 different catalogs that can be used to identify stamps.

    Answer: Two catalogs: the Scott catalog (North American, used worldwide) and the Yvert et Tellier catalog (French). In Brazil, the RHM catalog (Reinaldo Heleno Macedo) is also used. These catalogs list, classify, and give the value of stamps by country and number. — Catalogs such as the Scott, the Yvert, and the RHM identify, organize, and value stamps — the collector's reference.

  6. Using a stamp catalog, identify and assemble your collection according to the catalog number and country.