The forum rules also apply to the blog section, so make sure to keep that in mind when blogging.

Add posts whenever you have new content to share!

This is a sample blog. The Original Poster is the only member able to post on their blog. Other members can only comment on blog posts.

Make a section called "Member Blogs" where replies are disabled, but comments aren't. Members can share their knowledge, experience, and philatelic journey through their very own blog.

A robust set of features have been added to this forum. They (and their functions) are listed below.

• Level Up Meter - Members will have a meter at the bottom of their mini-profiles which shows how close they are to the next rank.

• Quick Reply BBCode Buttons - BBCode buttons added to the quick reply. 

• Live Drawing - At the very end of the BBCode button list, there's a button with a paintbrush on it. Click that, draw a picture, and add it to your post!

• Word Counter -  Adds a real time (as you type) word/character counter when posting.

• Post Reactions - Adds a new button near the post controls (i.e edit, quote, like) that allows users to post a reaction to a post.

• Member Gallery - Members can display their collection(s) in their gallery. See the "Display Your Stamps" board.

• My Notes - Write yourself a note using the notepad in the sidebar. Members can set their own colors for the notepad.

• Automatic Acronyms - Automatic Acronyms allows any acronyms in posts to have a helpful tooltip on the meaning of the acronym automagically! For example, hover over any of the following: MNH, PSE, VF, USPS, OG, PNC, YSCF
  
  
• Back to Top - Adds a "back to top" (or bottom) link to all pages. You can find it at the lower right of your screen.

• Color Palette - Adds the option for members to save up to 18 colors which they can use in posts and PMs. (You're not restricted to 18 colors, what it does is SAVES 18 colors so you don't have to memorize the hex value if you want to use the same color over and over).

• Rate Threads - Gives members the ability to rate any thread, from 1 to 5 stars.

• Quote Highlighted Text - Allows you to quickly quote a section of someone else's post by highlighting (selecting) the text in their post and then clicking the "Quick Quote" button that appears next to your mouse.

• Simple Tagging - Adds a section of buttons on your Posting Page & Quick Reply that makes it simple to tag anyone that has posted in that thread (and appears in the thread summary) simply by clicking on their name. Also, there is an 'All' button to tag everyone that is listed and optional buttons for group tagging.
  
  
• And more cool features to come in the future!

 

Adhesive - The gum or coating on the back of a stamp which allows you to attach it to an envelope.

Album - A book for storing stamps. Most albums consist of pages preprinted with stamp images, although a stockbook with pockets to hold stamps may also be considered an album.

Block - A group of attached stamps at least two wide and two tall.

Booklet Pane - A "page" of stamps from a booklet. Most panes consist of at least six stamps.

Cachet - A design or artwork on the left hand side of an envelope, found primarily on first day covers.

Cancellation - A mark used by the post office to show that a stamp has been used.

Centering - The position of the design on a postage stamp. On perfectly centered stamps, the design is exactly in the middle (there is equal spacing on all four sides between the perforation and design).

Coils - Stamps sold in rolls. Two opposite edges (most often the top and bottom) usually have straight edges rather than perforations. Coils are issued for use in dispensers or vending machines or for automatic affixing equipment.

Commemoratives - A stamp issued for a limited period of time, usually at the first-class rate and in a larger format than most stamps. Commemoratives usually honor persons, organizations, events or causes on significant anniversaries.

Condition - Broadly this refers to what shape the stamp is in and will help in determining a stamp's value. Condition considers questions such as: Is the stamp cancelled? Is it hinged? Does it have any flaws? How well it is centered?

Cover - An envelope with a stamp or other means of postage payment.

Definitives - Used on most mail, generally these are smaller size stamps printed in huge quantities, often in a single color ink, that are available from the post office for an indefinite period of time which may be many years.

Denomination - The amount of postage which the stamp pays.

Face Value - Another word for denomination.

First Day Cover - An envelope with a stamp canceled on its first day of sale.

Gum - Adhesive that is used to attach a stamp to an envelope.

Hinges - Small pieces of gummed paper that are used to affix stamps to an album page. Hinges allow for stamps to be removed from an album page without damaging the stamp.

Imperforate - A stamp sold without perforations or separating holes.

Mint - A stamp in the same condition as originally issued. This means it has its full gum and has not been hinged.

Overprint - An additional printing on a stamp that was not part of the original design -- such as additional words or symbols or even a new value. Typically overprints occur when there is not enough time to design and print a whole new stamp needed for some special reason or when rates increase. Precancels and surcharges are the most common types of overprints.

Pane - The proper name for a sheet of stamps sold at a post office. Most panes include a plate number and other markings in the margin or selvage.

Perforations - Holes punched between stamps to make it easier for an individual to separate two or more stamps. Collectors use a perf gauge to measure the perforations helping them to identify their stamp.

Philately - The hobby of stamp collecting.

Plate Block - A block of four or more stamps that has a code (usually one or more numbers) printed on the margin (selvage) identifying the printing plate used in the stamps' production.

Postage Due - When a piece of mail is sent that does not have the proper amount of postage affixed, the post office will require the addressee to pay the additional postage due. Hence, a special type of stamp has been issued to collect unpaid postage.

Postal Stationery - An envelope, card, or aerogramme sold by the post office on which the image of a stamp is preprinted. These stamps were printed as part of the stationery and thus can not be soaked off.

Postmark - A mark indicating when and from where a letter was sent. It may or may not also serve as a cancel.

Precancels - Stamps canceled prior to the mailing of a letter. U.S. precancels often consist of a city and state name between two black lines and are used primarily by bulk mailers who do some of the sorting of mail themselves. The idea is to eliminate the need to cancel the stamps; an effort to help to speed the handling of mail.

Prexies - The nickname for the U.S. 1938-54 Presidential definitive series, Scott 803-34, 839-51.

Revenue Stamps - Labels that do not pay postage but pay other fees or taxes.

Se-tenant - Two or more attached stamps with different designs.

Selvage - The margin of a pane of stamps that usually includes the plate number and other markings such as copyright notices.

Semi-postal - Postage stamps which are used to raise funds for a charity. These stamps are sold for more than their postage value with the difference supporting a cause or charity.

Souvenir Sheet - Stamps issued in a special format primarily for stamp collectors. Most souvenir sheets include only one of each stamp design and usually have a special decorative border.

Special - Christmas, Love, and Greeting stamps that share some characteristics of definitives (larger printing quantities and may be reprinted) and some characteristics of commemoratives (often larger size and although they may be sold for longer periods than most commemoratives they are still sold for shorter periods of time than definitives).

Surcharge - A stamp that has been overprinted with a new denomination.

Thematic - A subject or topic of stamps such as animals or trains.

Tongs - Tweezer-like tools with a smooth gripping surface used to handle stamps.

Topicals - Another word for thematic. A collection of stamps based on subject rather than country.

Watermark - A special mark incorporated into postage stamp paper as a security device, making it more difficult to counterfeit a stamp. Watermarks are thinner parts of the paper that sometimes may be seen by looking at the back of a stamp but often require dipping in special watermark fluid to be visible.



Terms are from www.stamps.org 's Glossary of Terms



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Below are links to more extensive lists:


stamps.org/Acronyms


www.linns.com/insights/glossary-of-philatelic-terms.html


www.ahtins.com/glossary/glossary/stamps.htm


blog.stanleygibbons.com/beginners-guide-to-philatelic-terms/