Philatelic Glossary
This glossary has been compiled from various different sources. Some of the terms have been reproduced with kind permission from the Stanley Gibbons Philatelic Terms Illustrated by James Mackay. If you think a term is missing please e-mail us.
Japanese Paper
Soft fine paper made from the bark of the mulberry tree, long fibres accounting for its strength.
Joined Paper
Paper with a slight overlap where two strips of stamps from a sheet have been joined at the selvedge to form a continuous coil.
Joint Issue
An issue of stamps by two or more independent countries to commemorate the same event.
Joint Line
The coloured line that often appears between coil stamps where the curved plate on a rotary press meet.
Journal Stamps
Low value stamps specially designed and produced to prepay postage on newspapers, periodicals etc.
Journal Tax Stamps
Stamps denoting taxes on newspapers but often conferring free transmission through the post.
Jubilee Line
Coloured lines printed in the sheet or pane margins of certain British and Commonwealth issues. They were included on the printing plates for technical reasons to achieve better results during printing.
Junk Mail
Term used for unsolicited advertising mail.
Jusqu'a Mark
(French) A mark found usually on airmail meaning "as far as" followed by the name of a terminal.
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