017

BACK

IDENTIFICATION AND CLASSIFICATION of all collectible items concerning a single subject / thematic topic	by Luciano Calenda, Italy, and Günter Pilz, Austria
added on Aug 25th, 2005

Dear friends !

The main purpose of this project is to find a “common language” in order to identify and classify all the postal and philatelic items currently existing. It is an attempt to let all collectors understand each other in describing the different items of their own collections provided that everybody is free to collect whatever she/he wants and whatever she/he likes.
This project was born “philatelically orientated”, but, later on, it has been extended also to all non postal and non philatelic collectible items.
From a pure philatelic point of view we would like to highlight that, according to the rules established for Stamp Exhibitions by F.I.P. (the International Philatelic Federation), most of the items (not all) described from 1 to 6 of this classification can be used for exhibition purposes. However, the collector / exhibitor must follow these rules in order to identify which items can be exhibited and which not.
We hope that the result of our effort is useful to our collectors friends and it can be adopted also by other thematic collectors.
If you have any comments and / or suggestions in order to improve this project, do not hesitate to contact us, clicking here .

Luciano & Günter

1. STAMPS

1.A Stamps issued by Postal Authorities
Stamps issued by Postal Authorities (national and/or local) of countries recognized by U.P.U. and countries having a recognized political autonomy although not recognized by U.P.U. These stamps are listed by the most important international catalogues.
This category comprehends:

• Normal stamps
• Self-adhesive stamps
• Souvenir sheets (the thematic element is on a stamp included in the souvenir sheet)
• Souvenir sheets (the thematic element is on a section of the souvenir sheet, not on the stamp)
• Booklets - the thematic element is on both the stamps and the booklet cover or inside the booklet
• Booklets - - the thematic element is on the cover and / or inside the booklet only

• Booklets - the thematic element is only on the stamps in the booklet
• Portocards
• Personalized stamps – Basic stamps issued without any drawing or picture which can be printed later on with different subjects chosen by either - the Postal Authorities or - by Private customers (in this second case the quantity of stamps issued is very limited).
Generally we should divide personalized stamps in two categories: 1) Those which are designed and printed on an individual computer, using special paper which has to be ordered beforehand. 2) Those which are designed on an individual computer, but then sent through the Internet to the company to have the stamps printed. These are sent to the customer by mail.
Stamps - Special cases a. The thematic element is shown on the margins of small sheets holding very few stamps (from 3 to 8); these stamps are printed in such a format only. These little sheets look very similar to souvenir sheets.
Stamps - Special cases b. The thematic element is shown on the margins of a large foil which is of a very marginal importance.
Stamps - Special cases c. Sometimes stamps may be issued in a special folder not linked to them and the thematic motive is on the folder

1. B Stamps – and other items – issued by Private Postal Companies
(theoretically, all the cases listed under 1.A may exist also in this category)

Stamps – and other items – issued by Private Postal Companies authorized to issue stamps by the Governmental Authorities at both national and local level

1.C Stamps – and other items – which can be defined illegal
(Sometimes it is difficult to establish whether a set issued by some normal countries are illegal or not)
Stamps – and other items – which can be defined illegal because issued in the name of:

- ‘Ghost countries’ (not existing countries because neither recognized by U.P.U. nor having a political autonomy)
- Existing countries but printed without any governmental authorization as confirmed by the U.P.U. ‘black list’

1.D “Related” stamps and other items
(Theoretically, these stamps can be ‘official’, ‘private’ and even ‘illegal’)

“Related” stamps and other items. This category includes any kind of stamps issued for a different motive which show a link to the main subject such as a person, a place, a particular of the drawing, a word and so on.

2. POSTAL STATIONERY ITEMS (Postcards, envelopes, aerogrammes)

2. A Stationery issued by Postal Authorities

Stationery issued by Postal Authorities (national and/or local) of countries recognized by U.P.U. or having a recognized political autonomy although not recognized by U.P.U.	issued by national authorities
	issued by local authorities

2. B Stationery items

such as category 2.A printed “on demand” of customers (companies, associations) and sold directly by the Postal authorities (repiquage, PAP, etc.)

2. C Stationery items

such as category ‘2.A’ printed through Internet

completely made by the Postal Authorities

partially made by customers (drawing, pictures, logos, sentences, etc.)

2. D “Service” Stationery items

Postage paid – Letter Mail: issued directly by Postal Authorities for their own purposes (philatelic or commercial)

2. E Stationery items

directly issued by Private Postal Companies under the authorization of the Postal Governmental Authorities

2. F Pre-existing normal stationery items

overprinted (on the left side or on the back side) by private organizations (Firms, Sport Clubs, Stamp Clubs, special events Organization Committees, etc.).

The overprinting of these items has never been authorized by Postal Authorities

2.G Normal covers or postcards

“Pre paid” or “Port Payé” or “Postage Paid” showing thematic elements printed by private organizations which use special reduced fares for commercial reasons

2.H “Related” Postal Stationery items
(Theoretically, these postal stationery items can be ‘official’ and ‘private’)

This category includes any kind of stationery issued for a different motive which show a link to the main subject such as a person, a place, a particular of the drawing, a word and so on.

2.I Postal Stationery Maximum Cards
(Theoretically, these postal stationery items can be ‘official’ and ‘private’)

This category includes any kind of stationery issued for a different motive which show a link to the main subject such as a person, a place, a particular of the drawing, a word and so on.

3. CANCELLATIONS
3.A Manual and Machine cancellations
Manual and Machine cancellations used by the National Postal Authorities of Countries recognized by U.P.U. or having a recognized political autonomy although not recognized by U.P.U.
3.B Manual and Machine cancellations
Manual and Machine cancellations used by Private Postal Companies authorized of the Postal Governmental Authorities to issue they own stamps (normally they are 1st day cancellations)
3.C “Related” Manual and Machine cancellations
“Related” Manual and Machine cancellations used for a different motive having a link to the main subject such as a person, a place, a particular of the drawing, a word and so on.
3.D Meter cancellations
Meter cancellations used by private Companies/Clubs/Offices the drawing and/or the logo of which is authorized by the National Postal Authorities
3.E Meter cancellations - similar to stamps
Meter labels used by postal authorities or private / business customers used similarly to stamps (printed on a computer and delivered the same or next day to the post-office)
3.F “Related” meter cancellations
“Related” meter cancellations: This category includes any kind of meter cancellations used for a different motive having a link to the main subject such as a person, a place, a particular of the drawing, a word and so on. (very unusual combination)
3.G Postal cachets
Postal cachets: Sometimes a particular Post Office in a country use a special cachet (normally a rubber cachet) on the occasion of the issue of a stamp set. In general these cachets have a thematic element linked to the stamp but they do not “kill” the stamps so cannot be considered as postal seals.
3.H Cinderella Manual, Machine cancellations or Meter cancels
Manual, Machine cancellations and Meter cancels used by non-existing countries (not recognized by U.P.U. or not having a political autonomy)
3.I Rubber cachets
Rubber cachets normally used by private users, such as Companies, Stamp Clubs, Sport Clubs, Sport Organizations and so on.
3.J Printed cachets
Printed cachets: sometimes Commercial Companies, Stamp Clubs, Sport Clubs, Sport Organizations, Special Events’ Organizations Committees print blank envelopes with ‘false’ cancellations.

4. MAXIMUM CARDS
The ‘perfect’ Maximum card needs to have 3 elements, according to the thematic rules: - a ‘picture postcard’ pre-existing the issue of the stamp - a stamp with the same subject of the card (the stamp MUST NOT show the same picture) - a special cancellation related to both the stamp and the subject of the card (Recently some countries – Australia, for example –are issuing postal stationery cards holding a stamp – of the same subject – on the front side of the card cancelled with the 1st day cancel of the stamp. This item can be considered as an hybrid item because originally it is a postal stationery card later on transformed, and sold, in a Maximum card. These items can be considered as postal stationery cards more than Maximum cards).

A correct Maximum card: stamp, card and cancel show Volleyball.	A half correct Maximum card: stamp and card are OK, but the cancel has no direct relation to Volleyball.	Incorrect Maximum card: the stamp and the card show the same image.

5. POSTAL LABELS & CACHETS USED FOR SPECIAL MAIL SERVICES
Sometimes Governmental Postal Authorities and/or Private Postal authorized Companies use special labels/cachets to certify a specific mails service (registered letters, insured letters, special delivery, express and so on); the label/ cachet may show a clear motive concerning the basic subject.

6. LABELS (showing the thematic element)
6.A Labels (tabs) joined to the stamp
Labels (tabs) joined to the stamp (which does not concern the basic theme) printed by Postal Authorities. These ‘labelled’ stamps are issued directly with the label (normally perforated) as established by the postal authorities
6.B ‘Personalized’ labels
‘Personalized’ labels joined to the stamps showing a picture or a logo decided by private collectors, private companies, organizations, stamp clubs and so on, and accepted by the postal authorities
6.C Labels printed separately by stamps
Labels printed separately by stamps; in these cases there is not any link with a stamp. They are printed by private clubs, firms, organizations and so on (p.e. Cinderellas).
6.D Labels printed under special circumstances and used as postage stamps
f. e. labels printed in a Polish prisoner of war camp which were used to send letters from one barrack to another, which was more like a game of some Polish elite people to fill out their leisure.	no Volleyball item is known
stamps like the Swiss soldier stamps, hotel stamps, school postal projetcs, etc

7. POSTCARDS
7.A Commercial or picture postcards
showing elements of the basic subject
7.B “Related” Postcards
the topic is only related to the subject
7.C Commercial or picture covers
showing elements of the basic subject
(Postcards and covers can be collected unused or mailed)

8. MATCHBOX LABELS / MATCHBOOK LABELS

example of a matchbook label	example of a matchbox label

9. PHONE CARDS

10. OTHER CARDS (Upper deck, US Olympic Committee cards, Railways, Metro and Bus pre-paid cards for buying tickets, and so on…)

Japanese railway card	US Metro Card