Imprinted stamp

An imprinted stamp on an Irish pre-paid envelope, used 1970.
An example of an embossed postage stamp, called an indicium, on an 1861 U.S. letter sheet. Note the raised portions.
A Hungarian telegram form with an imprinted stamp from the later part of the nineteenth century.
An imprinted stamp on an 1898 Cuba postal card.
An overprinted surcharged imprinted stamp on a Chinese zodiac "Year of the ox" postal card, 1997

In philately, an imprinted stamp is a stamp printed onto a piece of postal stationery such as a stamped envelope, postal card, letter sheet, letter card, aerogram or wrapper.[1] The printing may be flat upon the surface of the paper, or embossed with a raised relief.[2] An imprinted stamp is also known as unadhesive stamp [3] or indicium.[1]

The cost of the item of stationery includes the manufacture of the item and the charge for postal service. The design of imprinted stamps often bears a close resemblance to normal adhesive stamps of the same country and era. It may be a definitive or commemorative stamp.

  1. ^ a b Carlton, R. Scott. The International Encyclopedic Dictionary of Philately. Iola WI: Krause Publications, 1997, p.117. ISBN 0-87341-448-9.
  2. ^ Van Gelder, Peter J.; The Collectors' Guide to Postal Stationery, A Squirrel Publication, Shrewsbury, UK (1997) ISBN 0-947604-07-3
  3. ^ Ewen, Herbert L'Estrange. Priced Catalogue of the Unadhesive Postage Stamps of the United Kingdom (1840–1905). London: Ewen's Colonial Stamp Market, 1905.