Postage stamp reprint
Encyclopedia
In philately
a reprint is a new printing of a postage stamp
from the original plates. A reprint is to be distinguished from a new print
which is not printed from the original medium. A reprint may or may not be valid as postage.
, and then to destroy the printing plates.
Sometimes the authorities keep the plates on hand, and reuse them later. The reasons have included:
, where all stamps issued to date were reproduced or reprinted with the intention of making them more readily available to collectors. (Ironically, the actual numbers printed were small, and so most of the reissues are now rarer and more expensive than the originals they resemble.) In 1962, to prevent people profiting from the issue of an invert stamp error
, the United States Post Office Department
intentionally reprinted 40,270,000 copies the yellow Dag Hammarskjöld invert
stamp.
Philately
Philately is the study of stamps and postal history and other related items. Philately involves more than just stamp collecting, which does not necessarily involve the study of stamps. It is possible to be a philatelist without owning any stamps...
a reprint is a new printing of a postage stamp
Postage stamp
A postage stamp is a small piece of paper that is purchased and displayed on an item of mail as evidence of payment of postage. Typically, stamps are made from special paper, with a national designation and denomination on the face, and a gum adhesive on the reverse side...
from the original plates. A reprint is to be distinguished from a new print
New print (philately)
In philately a new print or afterprint is a new printing of a postage stamp not from the original printing plate, when the stamp is no longer sold at the post office counter for postage purposes....
which is not printed from the original medium. A reprint may or may not be valid as postage.
Background
While it is common for a postal service to add print runs as stocks are used up by the public, it is also the usual practice to only use a given design for a limited period of time so as to discourage forgeryForgery
Forgery is the process of making, adapting, or imitating objects, statistics, or documents with the intent to deceive. Copies, studio replicas, and reproductions are not considered forgeries, though they may later become forgeries through knowing and willful misrepresentations. Forging money or...
, and then to destroy the printing plates.
Sometimes the authorities keep the plates on hand, and reuse them later. The reasons have included:
- Problems with a new design, resulting in a sudden need for additional stamps
- Additional copies for stamp collectorsStamp collectingStamp collecting is the collecting of postage stamps and related objects. It is one of the world's most popular hobbies, with the number of collectors in the United States alone estimated to be over 20 million.- Collecting :...
- Souvenirs for stamp shows, government meetings, etc. (these are often printed on cards rather than stamp paper)
Identifying reprints
As reprints are produced from the original plates, it can be very difficult to distinguish them from the original printing. Frequently subtle details matter, such the type of paper, type of gum, or color shades. Reprints often appear fresh and bright compared to the originals.Official reprints
In a few cases, the postal authorities have produced official reproductions, copies of an existing design created on new plates. A notable example of this occurred in 1875 in the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, where all stamps issued to date were reproduced or reprinted with the intention of making them more readily available to collectors. (Ironically, the actual numbers printed were small, and so most of the reissues are now rarer and more expensive than the originals they resemble.) In 1962, to prevent people profiting from the issue of an invert stamp error
Invert error
In philately, an invert error occurs when part of a postage stamp is printed upside-down. Inverts are perhaps the most spectacular of a postage stamp errors, not only because of the striking visual appearance, but because they are almost always quite rare, and highly valued by stamp...
, the United States Post Office Department
United States Post Office Department
The Post Office Department was the name of the United States Postal Service when it was a Cabinet department. It was headed by the Postmaster General....
intentionally reprinted 40,270,000 copies the yellow Dag Hammarskjöld invert
Dag Hammarskjöld invert
The Dag Hammarskjöld invert is a 4 cent value postage stamp error issued on 23 October 1962 by the United States Postal Service one year after the death of Dag Hammarskjöld, Secretary-General of the United Nations, in an airplane crash...
stamp.