Glossary
of Stamp Collecting Terms
W
W: 1: Scott Catalog number prefix for Wrapper. 2: auction
abbreviation for with. 3. Waterworks, South Australia official overprint,
1868-74.
WA: USPS abbreviation for Washington.
Waagerechte paar: (Ger.) horizontal pair.
W.A.B.: Wien abzugs brief (Ger.) additional fee
to be paid on delivery in Vienna.
Wachau, S.S.: steamship marking of the Danube Steam
Navigation Company built around 1890s, for upper Danube lines.
W.A.D.E.S. Clayton’s: United Kingdom postal strike,
local post 1971.
Wadhwan: India Feudatory State; 1888, July 1: first
local typeset stamps, 1894: stamps discontinued, now in Saurashtra State,
Republic of India.
Wadi-Halfa: city in the Sudan, Interpostal Seals used
1872-82, see Interpostal Seals.
WADP: World Association for the Development of Philately,
formed by the UPU, FIP, AIJP, and ASCAT.
Wafer seal: see seal, wafer.
WAG: water activated gum.
Waghorn, Thomas: forwarding agent in Egypt, 1845.
Wagon lit: (Fr.) inscription for sleeping cars
used on revenue stamps.
Wagon-post: (Fr.) mail van.
Wagon Service: pick-up and delivery mail service inaugurated
in Washington, D.C. and New York, N.Y. on Oct. 1, 1896.
Wagshal shift: collector Jerome Wagshal discovered a
plate variety on the 5¢ 1847 stamp.
Wahlkarte: (Ger.) election postal card.
Wahlspruch: (Ger.) slogan.
Währung: (Ger.) currency, money.
Waikoa Island: bogus, Polynesia-type fantasy,1965, 1970.
Wainwright Associates: United Kingdom postal strike,
local post 1971.
Wales & Monmouthshire: stamps sold only at Wales
& Monmouthshire post offices but valid for postage throughout Great
Britain, except for Machin issues, 1958-69, inscribed “Postage
Revenue.”
1958: No.1, 3 pence dark purple, 1971: Machin issue without “Postage
Revenue,” 1999: stamps available in booklets.
Wales’ Express: private mail delivery service
that operated between Boston and Beverly, Mass, used a label.
Walfisch Bay: part of Colony of Cape of Good Hope.
Walker & Co.s Express: private package delivery
firm serviced Mass and Rhode Island, used a label.
Walker, Dr. J.: U.S. inscription on Medicine stamp; see
Private die proprietary stamps.
Walker’s Penny Post: S. Allan Taylor label, 1865.
Wallachia: see Danubian principalities.
Wallasey Post: United Kingdom postal strike, local post
1971.
Walli & Futunaöarna: (Swed.) the Wallice & Futuna Islands..
Wallis and Futuna: islands in the south Pacific Ocean, French colony; Official name of postal administration: Service des Postes et Telecommunications. Currency: 100 centimes = 1 franc 1888: became a French Protectorate, used stamps of New Caledonia, 1917: became a French colony, 1920: No.1, 1 centime black on green, first stamps were overprint “Iles Wallis et Futuna” on stamps of New Caledonia, first postage due stamp, 1939, July 5: first semipostal stamp, 1941: stamps of New Caledonia overprinted “France Libre” Free France, 1946, May 6: first air mail stamp, 1961, July 29: became an overseas territory of the French Republic, 1962, July 19: first issue as an overseas territory.
Wallis & Futunaöarna: (Swed.) the Wallice & Futuna Islands..
Wallisisk: (Dan., Nor., Swed.) Welsh.
Wallpaper: unnecessary postal issues from countries
which are considered to have little or no philatelic or monetary value.
Wallpaper covers: envelopes were made of wallpaper when
paper shortage took place during the American Civil War.
Walsall Security Printers: printer of stamps for postal
administrations located in Walsall, England.
Walterborough, S. C. Paid 10: see Confederate
Postmasters’ Provisionals.
Walton & Co.’s City Express: U. S. local post,
Brooklyn, N. Y., 1846.
Walton-Knost Express Company: private package delivery
firm serviced St. Louis, Mo. area, used a circular label.
Waltzen, S.S.: steamship marking of the Danube Steam
Navigation Company built around 1850s, for upper Danube lines.
Walzendruck: (Ger.) rotary press-printed.
Wampun money: New Netherlands director-general, 1657,
ordered that all letters received at New Netherlands (New York) had
to pay a fee of “three stivers of wampum,” equal to about
three cents.
WAN: international postal code for Nigeria.
Wanajaavesi S.S. Co.: (Fin.) steamship; local
post for use on steamships carrying mail, Finland, late 1800s.
Wan-An: Central Chinese local post (Kiangsi), 1949.
Wanderssstempel: (Ger.) type of hand cancellation used in German Southwest Africa.
Wanghia, Treaty of: U.S. 1844 treaty with China, opened
five ports to American trade, consul stations and most-favored nation
status.
Wan Kiang Area: (Anking) East China local post, 1945.
Wanman’s Caribooo Express: bogus label.
Wan-nan: East China local post, Wan-nan Post, 1949.
Want list: a listing, given to a stamp dealer or a collector,
of stamps that are needed or wanted by the collector.
Wapen: (Ger.) Walloon Legion Waffen S.S. feldpost
propaganda label.
Wapparn: (Fin.) Steamship; local post for use
on steamships carrying mail, Finland, 1890s.
Wappen: (Ger.) coat of arms.
War: overprint on semipostal stamps of British Honduras,
war tax stamps 1916-18.
Warawak: British Colonial Royal Wedding frames from
book Surreal Stamps and Unreal Stickers.
War Between the States: American Civil War, name used
for conflict in the Southern States.
War Board of Trade: 1918: stamps of Switzerland overprinted
in German “Industrielle Kriegswirtschaft.”
War charity: 1: semipostal with a surcharge to raise
funds for war. 2: overprint with "3.6.18" on stamps of Bahama
semipostals, 1917-19.
Wardak: cinderella, liberated area during Afghanistan
war.
Wardan: city in Egypt, Interpostal Seals used 1879-80,
see Interpostal Seals.
Wärde: (Swed.) registration and insured
mail handstamp for inland destinations, started 1873.
War Dep’t.: U.S. officials, used 1873-84 for departmental mail inWashington, D.C. and in Army posts throughout the country.
War Emergency Rate: World War I tax in form on increased
postage rates to help pay for World War I, Nov. 2, 1917 to July 1, 1919.
Warmouth, A. Packet-Verkehr: Berlin, local post, Germany
1888-1900.
Warner's Safe Cure Co.: inscription on Medicine stamp;
see Private die proprietary stamps.
War of the Rebellion: American Civil War, name used
in Northern States.
Warren Ave. Church Fair P.O.: S. Allan Taylor label,
similar to Tabernacle Fair Post Office label.
Warrenton, Ga. Paid 5: see Confederate Postmasters’
Provisionals.
War Savings Stamps: issued by the Treasury Department.
Warsaw: city in Poland; 1915-16: Polish local post,
1918, Nov. 17: stamps of Warsaw local post surcharged, called “Warsaw
Issues,” 1918: occupation stamps of Germany overprinted / surcharged
“Poctzta Polska” Poland Post.
Warschau, Gen.-Gouv.: Warsaw, German occupation of Poland,
1916.
War Stamp: 1: overprint on stamps of British Commonwealth
and Dominions. 2: the 1917 1¢ green stamp overprinted in two lines,
unofficial, printed by Roessler. 3: stamp issued during war conditions.
Warszawa: (Pol.) Warsaw, Poland, 1918.
War tax: 1: stamp issued to help defray war costs; may
be a surcharge and include normal value in addition to the tax. 2: Impuesto
de Guerra (Sp.) Spain 1898.
War Tax: 1: overprint on Antigua, 1916-18. 2: overprint
on stamps of Bahamas, British Guiana, 1918-19. 3: overprint on Barbados,
1917. 4: overprint on Bermuda, 1918 (Sc.42), 1920 (42a).
War tax stamps: stamps used on mail during periods of
conflict to raise funds; the stamp was applied in addition to the regular
postage.
Warwick’s City Dispatch Post: 1: local post, origin
unknown. 2: S. Allan Taylor label, 1864.
Warwiszki: (Pol.) “Samorzad Warwiszki”
Polish occupation, Mar. 23-27, 1923.
Wasa Rediviva: overprint for welfare group to raise
money for Swedish museum honoring sunken ship Wasa.
Wash.: abbreviation for Washington prior to Zip Code
usage.
Washed: used stamps that have had their cancels chemically
removed to be illegally reused.
Was-Hee: American Journal of Philately fantasy.
Washington: became a U.S. territory March 2, 1853, state
Nov. 11, 1889; cut from Oregon Territory.
Washington 2006: an international stamp show to be held
in Washington, DC. in 2006.
Washington-Franklins: a series of approximately 350
stamps issued between 1908 and 1922, also known as the Third Bureau
Issue.
Washington, Ga. Paid 10: see Confederate Postmasters’
Provisionals.
Washington Match Co.: inscription on Match stamp; see
Private die proprietary stamps.
Washline: design of 1939 U.S. commemorative showing
states hanging from Canadian border like wash on a line.
Was K: Washington, Kentucky, pre-adhesive postmark.
Wasserzeichen: (Ger.) watermark; a design, letter
or word impressed in the paper during the manufacture of the paper;
when found on a stamp is very helpful for identification purposes.
Water activated adhesive: the gum that requires moisture
to perform on stamps.
Waterbury cancels: unusual postmarks used by postmaster,
Waterbury, Conn., 1865-70.
Waterford, Dungarvan & Lismore Railway: Ireland
railway local post.
Waterford, Limerick & Western Railway: Ireland railway
local post.
Waterford, Limerick Railway: Ireland railway local post.
Waterlow & Sons, Limited London: 1951 printer’s
imprint on Afghanistan stamps.
Waterlow paper: thick, soft paper made by Waterlow for
New Zealand issues, 1900, came with and without watermark.
Watermark (Wmk.): a design, letter or word impressed
in the paper during the manufacture of the paper; when found on a stamp
is very helpful for identification purposes; note the watermark should
read correctly when viewed from the front of the stamp
Watermark detector: a black tray of glass or enameled
metal in which a special fluid is placed on top of the stamp to reveal
the watermark.
Watermark tray: black plastic tray used in detection
of watermarks on stamps; black is used so that the watermark will appear
darker than surrounding paper.
WATERSNOOD: overprint on stamps of the Netherlands
for flood relief, 1953.
"WATERSNOODNEDERLAND": overprint on stamps
of Netherlands Antilles (Curacao) for flood relief.
Water soluble gum: natural gums usage on postage stamps
until 1960; used in commerce in Biblical era.
Water soluble ink: ink on a stamp that dissolves when
immersed in water.
W Australia: Western Australia.
Wavy-Line roulette: a shallow-toothed serpentine roulette,
such as on Victoria 1854-57, 6d.
Wavy-Line stamps: Danish issues picturing wavy lines
in the design.
Way mail/letter: letters to be delivered to a post office
between the terminals of the route.
Way marking: mail picked up by carriers on their way
between two post offices, carrier indicates coach, rider, steamboat
or other contract agency carrying mail between post offices, way markings
are usually collect, applied at the receiving post office, when the
cover entered the U.S. Post Office Department mail system.
Way pouch: a pouch containing mail for post offices
along a certain route; it is opened at each post office to remove local
mail and add mail from that office to other destinations on the route.
Wayzata: Aerial World Airways persuaded the Newfoundland
government to issue a stamp in 1932 to finance purchase of a plane for
a route from Wayzata, Minnesota via several cities to England; sales
were poor and the scheme fell through.
Wax seal: see Seal, wax.
Wazan: local post between Wazan and Alcazar, Morocco,
Nov. 1896.
W / C: auction abbreviation for well centered.
WD: Walter H. Doxen, BEP employees initials, 1906-1928;
see Plate Finisher, Siderographer.
Weak: term applied to stamps that are not bad enough
to be called damaged, usually a slightly thin or shortened corner.
Weatherford, Tex. Paid 5: see Confederate Postmasters’
Provisionals.
Weather forecasts: on U.S. Mail, U.S. Post Office Dep’t.
project for distributing local weather forecast information; c1895.
Web: a continuous roll of rotary press printing paper
used for printing stamps.
Webb’s Express: private package delivery firm
serviced Boston andsalem, Mass., used a label.
Web presses: webfed presses use a continuous roll of
paper fed into the press.
Web sites: locations on the Worldwide Web portion of
the Inernet where both commercial and non-commercial philatelic information
is presented. Each web site has its own address, i.e., URL (Uniform Resource Locator).
Wedding band: term used for the US 5c air mail issued
in 1948 with a band around the five New York boroughs.
Wedding Prince Edward and Sophie Rhys-Jones: common
design of the British Commonwealth of Nations stamps, 1999.
Weed’s Express: private package delivery firm
serviced New York City, N.Y.area, used a label.
Weekend warrior: a dealer who only sells stamps on weekends
at stamp shows.
Weeks & Potter: inscription on Medicine stamp; see
Private die proprietary stamps.
Weens Rublis: surcharge, stamps of Latvia, 1920-21.
Weeping Princess: Canadian stamp showing Princess Elizabeth
with a teardrop under her right eye, 1935.
WEF: William E. Franke, BEP employees initials, 1906-1928;
see Plate Finisher, Siderographer.
Wei-Hai-Wei: 1: Liu King Tao/Chefoo Courier Post, China
local post, late 1890s. 2: Dragonboat Regatta, unissued Great Britain
cinderellas by David Horry, 2001
Weihnachten: "Christmas," unofficial German overprint on stamps of Italy for Rhodes, Aegean Slands, 1944.
Weihnachtsmarke: (Ger.) Christmas seal.
Weimar: Courier local post, 1893-94.
Weimar issue: see Deutsche National Versammlung.
Weimar Republic: mythical stamp entity in the movie,
Nine Queens, filmed in Argentina.
Weihnachten: unofficial German overprint on stamps of
Italy for Rhodes, Aegean Islands, 1944.
Wei Nan: Northwest China local post (Shensi) 1949.
Weinrot: (Ger.) claret (color).
Weisbecker: Donald Evans issue, New York, see
Evans, Donald.
Weise Karte: (Ger.) white card, United Nations.
Weisenfels: (Ger.) Courier local post, Germany,
1893-96.
Weissrussland: (Ger.) White Russia.
Welch’s Express: private package delivery firm
serviced New York City, and Greenport, N.Y., used labels.
Well centered: stamp having an even margin on all four
sides.
Wells & Co. Express: private mail delivery firm
serviced Buffalo, N.Y., Cleveland, Detroit.and Chicago, Ill. used labels.
Wells & Co’s. Express: private mail delivery
firm serviced Buffalo, N.Y, to New York City, used labels.
Wells & Co’s. Express: private mail delivery
firm serviced Boston, Mass. area, used labels.
Wells Fargo and Co.: U. S. local post, 1861-88; operated
stage routes carrying mail, freight and passengers to and from the West
from 1849; firm issued stamps and applied cancels to envelopes which
are considered very desirable; used corner cards, labels and stamps.
Wells Letter Express: first commemorative stamp issued
in the U.S., for Perry’s war of 1812 depicting victory on Lake
Erie.
Wells, Richardson & Co.: inscription on Medicine
stamp; see Private die proprietary stamps.
Welthungerhilfe: (Ger.) World Hunger Relief
Weltpostverein: (Ger.) world post, UPU.
Weltraum: (Ger.) world of space.
Wenden: town in former Russian province of Livonia,
then in Latvia as Vidzeme; 1863-1901: issued own Zemstvo stamps; see
Russia.
Wenden(schen): Russia-Wenden, former Province, 1862-64.
Wenden Kries: Russia, Livonia; District of Wenden.
Werbemarke: (Ger.) propaganda stamp.
Werbestempel: (Ger.) propaganda slogan /
cancel.
Werdau: city in Germany, Courier local post, 1893-95.
"Wer ein Volk retten will kann nur heroisch denken":
(He who wants to save his people must think heroically) on four stamp
souvenir sheet depicting Hitler for first time, April 5, 1937; also
issued in Hitler skull parody produced by the U. S. Office of Strategic
Services.
Wert: (Ger.) value, denomination.
Wertangabe: (Ger.) face value.
Wertaufdruck: (Ger.) surcharge
Wertangabe: (Ger.) inscription on insured parcel
post label of Germany.
Wertbriefe: (Ger.) insured mail.
Wervtoll: (Ger.) valuable..
WES: Walter E. Spring, BEP employees initials, 1906-1928;
see Plate Finisher, Siderographer.
West African Monetary Union: common design on stamps
of the French Community of Nations, 1972.
Westar: U.S. satellite used for transmission of Mailgrams,
launched April 13, 1974, first transmission made Sept. 6, 1974, delivered
by the USPS.
W(est) Australia: Western Australia.
West Berlin: western part of former German capital,
had its own stamps since Sept. 1948.
West Clare Railway Company: Irish railway that printed
stamps for mail carried on their trains then taken to post offices for
delivery.
West Coast: local post overprint on stamps of Sumatra
for Japanese occupation, 1942-45.
Westcott Express Co.: parcel delivery firm serviced
Brooklyn, N.Y. and New York City.; used stamps, booklets.
Westcott, J. W.: mailboat based at port of Detroit,
Michigan.
West End London L.P.S.: United Kingdom postal strike,
local post 1971.
Wester Local Post: see Hälsingborg - E. S. Wester Local Post.
Western Army; North-Western Army: 1918-20: overprint
of stamps of Russia; see Northern Army, and Western Army.
Western Australia: western part of Australia, former
British Crown Colony, currency: 12 pence = 1 shilling, 20 shillings
= 1 pound 1854, Aug. 1: No. 1, 1 pence black, 1859: used oval with bars
as cancel, 1882: first postal fiscal stamp issued, 1891: joined the
UPU, 1901, Jan. 1: one of six British colonies that formed the Commonwealth
of Australia, 1913: stamps of Australia used; see Commonwealth
of Australia.
Western Australian Government Railways: local post,
Australia, early 1900s.
Western Canada: bogus, 1981.
Western Canada Airways: local post, Canada, 1927.
Western Chyan: bogus Burma issue related to Dam Batai.
Western Express Mail: private mail served the mining
regions of California and Nevada where government postal service was
inadequate.
Western Front: France, German occupation, 1914-18.
Western Isles: rocket post labels, United Kingdom local
post, 1934.
Western Laurania: fantasies created by John de Treville
with countries taken from Winston Churchill’s book, Savrola.
Western Sahara: Saharan republic, illegal issues, not
issued by Morocco, based on UPU circular of Nov. 18, 2002.
Western Samoa: inscription/overprint on stamps of New
Zealand, 1935, for Samoa under British dominion; see Samoa.
Western Thrace: located between Greece and Bulgaria;
1919: postage due stamps of Bulgaria overprinted for postage due. 1920:
stamps of Greece overprinted, stamps of Turkey surcharged, see
Thrace.
Western Turkey: 1912-13: Balkan Wars; Greece occupied
part of Western Turkey, area became known as the New Greece.
Western Ukraine: eastern Central Europe; formerly known
as Galicia, once part of Austria; currency: 100 shahiv (sotykiv) = 1
hryvnia, 100 heller = 1 krone 1918: No. 1, 5 shahiv on 15 hryvnia dull
red, overprint on stamps of Austria, 1918: registration stamp known as
the Kolomya Issue, 1918, Dec.12: provisional government, independent
as Western Ukraine, used overprinted “Ykp. H.P.” stamps of
Austria, 1919: stamps of Austria surcharged for Romanian occupation of
Pokutia, Ukraine, 1919: stamps of Austria surcharged for postage due,
1919: absorbed by Poland.
Western Union Telegraph Company: U. S. telegraph stamps
issued for use on firm’s telegrams, 1871-1946.
Western United Powers: Donald Evans issue; see
Evans, Donald.
Westerstede: city in Germany, local post, Germany, 1945-48.
Westervelt’s Post: U. S. local post, Chester,
N. Y., about 1863-65.
West Florida: see Republic of West Florida.
West Fukien: Chinese Red Post, local post, 1930-31.
West Furland: fantasy, no information available.
West India Manufacturing Co.: inscription on Medicine
stamp; see Private die proprietary stamps.
West Indies: consists of Anguilla, Antigua, Aruba, Barbados,
Bonaire, British Virgin Islands, Curacao, Dominica, Grenada, Guadeloupe,
Martinique, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, St. Christopher-Nevis, Trinidad
and Tobago, and the Virgin Islands.
West Indies Associated States: formed in1967, consisted
of Antigua, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia and St.
Vincent.
West Indies Federation: common design of the British
Commonwealth of Nations, April 1958.
West Irian: western half of New Guinea, aka Irian Barat,
West New Guinea; currency: 100 cents = 1 gulden, 100 sen = 1 rupiah,
1 rupiah = 1 gulden 1962: No.1, 1 cent vermilion and yellow, stamps of
Netherlands New Guinea overprinted “UNTEA” United Nations
Temporary Executive Authority, 1963, May 1: freed from West New Guinea
rule, Indonesian administration; first postage due, 1973: used stamps
of Indonesia; see Irian
Barat, Netherlands New Guinea, United Nations West New Guinea.
West Lancashire Railway: British railway local post.
Westland: bogus stamp created by Mr. West.
West Liao-ning Area: Northeast China local post, 1945.
West Middlesex Courier: United Kingdom postal strike,
local post 1971.
West New Guinea: see Netherlands New Guinea.
Westonbirt School Mail: United Kingdom postal strike,
local post 1971.
Weston’s Express: parcel delivery firm serviced
Boston and Plymouth, Mass., used labels.
Westphalia: fantasies created by John de Treville with
countries taken from Winston Churchill’s book, Savrola.
Westpoint Falkland Islands: labels that resemble postage
stamps; not valid for postage.
West Refaim: cinderellas produced in Europe about 1924
as stamps, picture postcards and cancellations.
West Riding & Grimsby Railway: British railway local
post.
West Riding Strike Post: United Kingdom postal strike,
local post 1971.
West Russian Army: 1919: occupation of Kurland by Co.
Bermondt-Avalov using stamps of Latvia handstamped or overprinted with
a symbol meaning “Z.A.” Zapadnaya Armiya, Western Army, 1940:
another set of stamps was issued during Russian occupation of the area.
West-Sachsen: Germany, Soviet occupation of West Saxony,
1945-46.
West Srem (Vukovar): bogus overprint on stamps of Yugoslavia
for Bosnian Republic.
West Szechuen: People’s Post, Southwest China,
China People’s Republic, 1950.
Westtown: U. S. local post, Westtown, Pa., 1853-67,
used by The Westtown School as training usage of stamps for franking
letters.
Westubgarn-Orgland: (Hung.) Western Hungary,
local post, 1921.
Westvaco: printers of U.S. postal stationery.
West Vinland: supposedly a colony of Occussi Ambeno.
West Virginia: became a U.S. state June 20, 1863; taken
from Virginia in American Civil War.
Wet paper: paper that has been dampened before printing.
Wet printing: has a moisture content of 15-35% compared
to 5-10% for "dry" printing; also has a duller look than "dry" printing.
Weybridge Emergency Post: United Kingdom postal strike,
local post 1971.
WF: auction abbreviation for waterfalls, topical.
W.f.: abbreviation for wrong font, when a wrong letter
or another style appears.
WFB: William F. Blue, BEP employees initials, 1906-1928;
see Plate Finisher, Siderographer.
WF Heads: the heads of Washington and Franklin on the
third Bureau issues from1908 to 1922.
W.FR.: Weiter Franco (Ger.) paid to part destination,
figure indicates balance due on delivery.
WFUNA: World Federation of United Nations Association,
produces its own cacheted covers to benefit the UN.
Whall’s Express: private parcel delivery firm
serviced Mass., used a label.
Wharton’s U. S. P. O. Despatch: 1857, Louisville,
Ky; see Carriers’.
Wheat Sheaf: as overprint on stamps of Republic of Hungary
when kingdom was restored.
Wheel of fortune cancel: resembles a roulette wheel.
Whitby & Port Perry Express Company: private parcel
delivery firm that serviced Whitby and Port Perry, Ontario, area, used
a label.
White back: surface-coated paper, with the base white;
used in British Colonial stamps during 1914-19 as substitute for colored
pulp papers.
White border period: postal stationery from 1915-1930
with a white border surrounding the illustration.
White Plains: U.S. stamp or souvenir sheet honoring the Battle of White
Plains.
White Poppy: U.S. Navy postal code name during WW II
for Noumea, New Caledonia.
White Queen: Canada’s 14¢ Queen Elizabeth
II stamp, Scott 716, with red background color and tagging omitted.
White Russia: aka Belorussia, Russia, adjoining Poland;
1920: stamps for Ruthenian Army Corps, postal use in doubt, see
Belarus.
White’s Branch Express: private mail delivery
firm serviced northern New Jersey, used a label.
Whitesides, B.: firm carried mail “across the
lines” during
the American Civil War.
White’s Railroad Express: private mail delivery
firm serviced Mass., used a label.
Whiting & Co. Express: private mail delivery firm
serviced Plumas and Butte Counties, Calif., used a label.
Whitlock Metered Mail Co.: U.S. postage meter firm,
1929-33, acquired by National Postal Meter Co.
Whitney Transfer Company: private parcel delivery firm
serviced an unknown area, used stamps.
Whittelsey’s Express: 1: US local post, Chicago,
Ill. 1857. 2: bogus U. S. local post, S. Allan Taylor.
Whitten’s Express: private mail delivery firm
serviced Boston and Newburyport, Mass., used a label.
W.H.L.: W. H. Lortimer, postal official of Colonial
post office at Georgetown, British Guinea, 1850-51 issue.
WHO: World Health Organization: 1: common design on
stamps of the French Community of Nations, 1968. 2: common design of
the British Commonwealth of Nations, 1966.
Whole sheet: sheet is absolutely unbroken with sheet
margin intact.
“Who-lidays”: USPS pictorial cancel used
in 1999-2000 as a joint promotion with movie, The Grinch Who Stole
Christmas.
W.H.W.: see Winterhilfswerk des Deutschen Volkes.
WI: 1: USPS abbreviation for Wisconsin.2: West Indies
WIAE: West Indian Aerial Express (USA).
Wide space overprints: usually found on Bureau precancels
due to misapplication of the overprinting plate.
Widin, S.S.: steamship marking of the Danube Steam Navigation
Company built around 1850s, for various Danube lines.
Widows’ franks: widows of deceased presidents
free frank, Act of Congress, 1940.
Wien: (Ger.) Vienna.
Wiener Messe: label with flying rocket and overprint
issued for Vienna Fair.
Wiener Privat-Telegrafen Gesellschaft: (WR.PR.TEL.GES.)
(Ger.) Vienna Private Telegraph Co., 1870.
Wiesbaden: city in Germany, local post, Transport-Anstalt
und Privat-Post, 1886-1900.
Wigan Junction Railway: British railway local post.
Wiggins, Teape paper: firm supplied paper for New Zealand
stamps in1872 (watermarked WT & Co.), 1925-26 (thin, hard and surfaced)
and 1935-40 (unsurfaced rag).
Wikingland: cinderella for artificial island in North
Sea.
Wilayah Persekutuan: Malayasia-Kuala Lumpur; 1986, Oct.
25: used Agriculture and State Arms designs of Johore, stamps of Malaysia.
Wilder, Edward: inscription on Medicine stamp; see
Private die proprietary stamps.
Wilding stamps: nickname for British 1952 stamps with
portrait of Queen Elizabeth II by Dorothy Wilding.
Wildlife Courier Post: private fantasy label made by
Gale J. Raymond, international courier.
Wilkinsburg Stamp Club: produced spoof souvenir sheets
for their annual exhibition since 1961.
Willard Delivery Company: private parcel delivery firm
serviced an unknown area, labels exist.
Will Call: printed on postcard; used by salesmen to
advise their customers date of arrival in their vicinity.
Willett's Express: private parcel delivery firm serviced
Boston and Ipswich, Mass., used a label, 1847.
Williams, Dr., Medicine Co.: inscription on Medicine
stamp; see Private die proprietary stamps.
William's City Post: 1854, Cincinnati, Ohio.; see Carriers” Stamps.
Williamson, J. J.: patented a money order postal card,
liberty head design of 1875.
Willpost, Liverpool: United Kingdom postal strike; local
post 1971.
Wilmington: city in the US; Roche’s City Dispatch,
local post, 1850.
Wilmington Parlor Match Co.: inscription on Match stamp;
see Private die proprietary stamps.
Wilson, Rev. E. A.: inscription on Medicine stamp; see
Private die proprietary stamps.
Wilson, Thos. E., M.D.: inscription on Medicine stamp;
see Private die proprietary stamps.
Wimborne Post: United Kingdom postal strike; local post
1971.
Wimer, John M.: postmaster, St. Louis, Mo., 1845, issued
Postmaster’s Provisional stamps.
Wimponia: cinderella for Kingdom of Popeye’s friend,
Wimpy.
Winan’s City Post: bogus, U.S. local post featuring
a flying bomb, late 1800s or early 1900s; label was so successful, that
several imitations also sold very well.
Winchester & Co.'s Express: private mail delivery
firm serviced Boston and Gloucester, Mass., used labels.
Winchester and District: United Kingdom postal strike;
local post 1971.
Winchester paper: security paper using a heavy cross
section of thick bluish semi-circles; found on stamps of Venezuela,
1932-38.
Winchester Post: United Kingdom postal strike; local
post 1971.
Window booklets: British term for red-covered retail
stamp booklets which are sold by private retailers.
Window envelopes: envelopes with a transparent panel
in the front through which the address of the enclosure is visible.
Windward Islands: British West Indies island group made
up of St. Lucia, St. Vincent, Grenada and Dominica; Scuba Diving, Sea
Garden Nassau, The Pitons of St. Lucia inscriptions, unissued Great
Britain cinderellas by David Horry, 2001.
Wine stamps: conventional revenue stamps denominated
in currency, used to pay taxes on cases of wine and cordials;1914-54.
Winged propeller: design as overprint on stamps of Switzerland
for air mail.
Winged wheel: design as overprint for Belgium, officials
for National Railways.
Wing margin: the extra unprinted margin left as part
of a stamp by the perforating machine.
Wings for Norway: a commemorative issued in Norway and “Little
Norway” Canada
in 1946
Winnipeg Messenger Co.: parcel delivery firm that used
a stamp; serviced Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada; year unknown.
Winnipeg Pembina: local post, Winnipeg, Canada, late
1970s.
Winnsborough, S.C. Paid 5: see Confederate Postmasters’ Provisionals.
Winslow & Co.’s Express: bogus local post,
Canada, A. Allan Taylor, 1864..
Winslow’s Express: private mail and parcel delivery
firm serviced Boston, Mass and Portland, Maine, 1841-47; bogus S. Allan
Taylor labels exist..
Winter gum: U.S. stamps prepared with “soft” gum
intended for use when weather is cold and dry to protect stamps from
curling, cracking and breaking; 1904-06.
Winterhilfe: (Ger.) overprint on stamps of Austria
and Germany, semipostal to help the poor in winter. .
Winterhilfswerk des Deutschen Volkes (WHW): (Ger.)"Winter
Relief of the German People," inscription, largest charity of the
Third Reich, used for a range of stamps, booklet covers, etc.
Winterhulp: (Dut.) overprint on stamps of the
Netherlands, semipostal.
Winter relief: charity or semipostal stamps to aid the
poor in winter.
WIPA: Wiener Internationale Postwertzeichen-Ausstellung
(Ger.) Vienna International Postal Exhibition, 1881, 1890, 1933,
1965, 1981, and 2000.
Wiping creases: marks caused by damaged cleaning blades
left on the surface of the plate before printing.
Wiremark: original term for a watermark.
Wirral & W. Lancashire: United Kingdom postal strike;
local post 1971.
Wirral Junction Railway: British railway local post.
Wirrzähnungen: inconsistant or irregular perforations
Wir Sind Frei: (Ger.) overprint on stamps of
Czechoslovakia, German Occupation, unofficial stamp, 1938.
Wis: 1. Wisconsin, pre-adhesive postmark. 2. abbreviation
for Wisconsin prior to Zip Code usage.
Wisconsin: became a U.S. territory July 4, 1836, state
May 29, 1848; area cut from Michigan Territory.
Wiscowsin, State of: fantasy issue created by a stamp
dealer in Wisconsin.
Wise & Co.: inscription on Match stamp; see
Private die proprietary stamps.
Wisen Local Post: see Malmö - G. Wisen Local Post.
Withdrawn lot: an auction lot removed from sale for
any one of various reasons; misdescription, misidentification, lot lost
or misplaced, or lot not having reached the reserve price.
Without gum: stamp issued with gum but lost the gum
somewhere, somehow.
Wittenberg: city in Germany, local post; 1: Wittenberg,
Lutherstadt, 1945-48. 2: Courier, 1896-99.
Wituland: German East Africa speculative stamps manufactured
by Denhardt Bros. in 1889, listed in Michel catalogue; see Suaheliland.
Witwen und Waisen-Woche: overprint on stamps of Bosnia,
semipostal for "Widows and Orphans Week."
WJ: Walter Jahnke, BEP employees initials, 1906-1928;
see Plate Finisher, Siderographer.
WK: William R. Kern, BEP employees initials, 1906-1928;
see Plate Finisher, Siderographer.
Wloclawek: city in German-occupied Russian Poland, local
post overprint, 1918-20.
Wmk: see Watermark.
WMMH: Scott Catalog number prefix for Machins (Great
Britain Wales & Monmouthshire).
Wn: currency in Korea.
WNS (WAPD Numbering System): assigns numbers to stamps
issued by participating postal administrations; see World Association
for the Development of Philately.
WO: 1: Scott Catalog number prefix for Official Wrapper.
2: Way Office.
W/O: without.
W/OG: Without Original Gum
Wohltätigkeits Ausgabe: (Ger..) charity
stamps: stamps sold at more than the inscribed face value, with the
difference between the face value and the selling price used for charity
work; these are often called semipostal stamps.
Woldenberg: Polish officers camp, local post, 1942-44.
Wolmaransstd: town in the Transvaaal, South Africa;
1900, June 23: local stamps overprinted “Cancelled V.R.I.” during
South-African war.
Wolmar-Ronnenberg: bogus, Latvia, Wolmar District, 1918.
Wolverhampton-Birmingham: United Kingdom postal strike;
local post 1971.
Won, Wn, Wun: currency unit in North Korea and South
Korea.
Wonderland: cinderella based on Lewis Carroll’s
famous country.
Wood & Co. City Despatch: U.S. local post, Baltimore,
Md., 1856.
Woodblocks: Cape of Good Hope 1861 issues that were
printed from stereotypes mounted on small wooden blocks.
Woodley Island: bogus, no information available.
Woodworth, C. B. & Son: inscription on Perfumery
stamp; see Private die proprietary stamps.
Woody Wagon: term used for U.S. stamp, issued Aug. 3,
2001 showing a wood-paneled station wagon automobile.
Woon, won: South Korean currency converted to hwan.
Working die: an intermediate die created through a transfer
process from the original engraved die to creat a printing base.
Working model: when referred to a stamp design, is the
ink-and-paper design, prepared by a designer for use of the engraver.
World Association for the Development of Philately (WADP):
A department of the Universal Postal Union (UPU), which includes International
Federation of Philately (FIP) and other international organizations.
World-Capitalism: forgery printed by Germany on British
stamp, WW II.
World Government: cinderella, no information available.
World Health Organisation: 1948: founded with overprint
Organization Mondiale de la Sante (Fr.) on stamps of Switzerland
for League of Nations, 1962: first commemorative stamp.
World Intellectual Property Organization: 1970: founded,
took over duties of the United International Bureau for the Protection
of Intellectual Property, 1974: became a United Nations agency, 1982,
May 27: first official stamps issued inscribed Organisation de la Propriete
Intellectuelle (Fr.).
World Meteorological Organisation: 1956: overprint on
stamps of Switzerland for United Nations, 1973: first commemorative
stamp, 1973, Dec. 15: common design on stamps of Portugal and Colonies.
World Scout Jamboree: overprint on stamps of Aitutaki, 1987.
World Nations League: pseudo United Nations; a Henry
Stull fantasy, once listed in Ohio telephone book under “Stamps
for Collectors.
World's Dispensary Medical Assocn.: inscription on Medicine
stamp; see Private die proprietary stamps.
World-Slavery: forgery printed by Germany on British
stamp, WW II.
World Stamp Championship (WSC): an International Federation
of Philately (FIP) competition among traditional exhibits which received
90 or more points in a FIP world exhibtion.
World Telecommunications Conferences: U.S. booklets
communication stamps, 1947.
World War II: common design of the British Commonwealth
of Nations, 1995.
Worldwide Post: United Kingdom postal strike; local
post 1971.
Worms: city in Germany, local post, Privat-Stadt-Post
Wormatia, 1895-1900.
Worn impression: stamp printed where the printing surface
shows signs of deterioration.
Worn plate: a plate where parts of the design are worn
so that they fail to print properly.
Worthing Alpha Mail: United Kingdom postal strike; local
post 1971.
Worthing Private P.S.: United Kingdom postal strike;
local post 1971.
Wove paper: smooth, even finished paper without watermarks
that is suitable for all types of stamp printing.
w/PR: auction term for “with prices realized.”
WR: auction abbreviation for topical military.
Wrangel issues: Nov.1920; stamps of Russia surcharged
for the mail of internees of Gen.Peter Wrangel’s army and civilian
refugees from South Russia, stamps suppressed May 31, 1921, see
Russia, South.
Wrap: a protective paper covering, applied by a postal
employee, placed over a postmarked stamp on a cover, to protect it during
its postal journey to the addressee.
Wrapper: a postal stationery item with an imprinted
stamp design used in the mailing of newspapers; usually wrapped around
a newspaper or periodical.
WRB: William R. Brown, BEP employees initials, 1906-1928;
see Plate Finisher, Siderographer.
Wreck cover: item of mail that has been salvaged from
a train, plane or ship wreck.
Wrexham, Mold & Connah’s Quay Railway: British
railway local post.
Wright, R. & G.A.: inscription on Perfumery stamp;
see Private die proprietary stamps.
Wright's Indian Vegetable Pills: inscription on Medicine
stamp; see Private die proprietary stamps.
Writing U.D.N.Y.: writing Undercover Division, New York;
marking indicates that contents of envelope was checked for fraudulent
use of discount classes of mail.
Wroclaw: formerly Breslau, Poland.
WS: Scott Catalog number prefix for War Savings.
W.T.: 1: can refer to Washington or Wisconsin Territories
in a postmark. 2: (Ire.) Wet Time overprint on Irish unemployment labels.
WTP (WP): William T. Powers, BEP employees initials,
1906-1928; see Plate Finisher, Siderographer.
Wugu: emergency issue of three stamps prepared for use
in German East Africa, but never issued.
Wuhan: formerly Hankow, China.
Wuhu: city in China, local post, 1894-97.
Wuppertal: city in Germany, 1: Courier local post. 1894-1900.
2: Express-Packet-Verkehr, 1886. 3: Privat-Brief-Verkehr, 1886-87.
Württemberg: German State in southern Germany;
currency: 60 kreuzer = 1 gulden (1851), 100 pfenning = 1 mark (1875)
1775: Thurn and Taxis had a 30 year agreement to run the posts, 1805:
Thurn and Taxis agreement expired, not renewed, 1819: Thurn and Taxis
ran the posts until 1851, paid a fee for this privilege, 1851, April
1: joined the German-Austrian Postal Union, 1851. Oct. 15: No.1, 1 kreuzer
black, buff, 1870: became part of the German Empire, but kept issuing
its own stamps, 1875: first official stamp, 1902, March 31: relinquished
its postal authority, could issue official stamps only, 1919, April
26: joined the German Republic, 1920, March 31: stamps no longer valid,
sold postal rights to Germany, 1923: official stamps discontinued, used
stamps of Germany, French Occupation, German State. 1947: French occupation
with denominations in PF (Pfenning) or M (Mark), 1949, Feb. 25: first
semipostal occupation stamp, French occupation.
Würzburg: city in Germany, Private-Stadebriefverkehr
local post, 1896-97.
Wurzen: city in Germany, 1. Courier local post, 1893.
2. local post, 1945-48.
Wu-Shan: city in southwest China, local post West Szechuen,
1949.
Wu-Tu: city in northwest China, local post Kansu, 1949.
WV: 1: U.S. Sanitary Fair. Scott catalog number prefix
to identify stamps other than standard postage. 2: USPS abbreviation
for West Virginia.
W.Va.: abbreviation for West Virginia prior to Zip Code
usage.
WW: 1. abbreviation for worldwide. 2. William Wapple,
BEP employees initials, 1906-1928; see Plate Finisher, Siderographer.
WWF: World Wildlife Fund.
WW I: abbreviation for World War I.
WW II: abbreviation for World War II.
WW II Eastern Occupations Study Group: Germany Philatelic
Society section studying countries under German occupation after World
War II.
WWM: William W. Malone, BEP employees initials, 1906-1928;
see Plate Finisher, Siderographer.
WX: Scott Catalog number prefix for U.S. Christmas Seals.
WY: USPS abbreviation for Wyoming.
Wyman, W.: U. S. local post, Boston and New York, 1844.
Wymiana: (Pol.) exchange label used by the
Polish Union of Philatelists when collectors in Poland want to send
philatelic material out of the country.
Wyo.: abbreviation for Wyoming prior to Zip Code usage.
Wyoming: became a U.S. territory July 29, 1868, state
July 10, 1890, cut from Dakota, Idaho and Utah territories.
Wyst. Filat 1934 Katowice: (Pol.) Poland overprint for 1934 philatelic exhibition in Katowice..
Wytheville, Va..Paid 5: see Confederate Postmasters’ Provisionals.
WZ: (Ger.) Wasserzeichen, watermark.
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