Series (postage stamp)
A stamp series , called series or set for short , consists of several postage stamps issued by a postal administration which relate to a topic. Most of the time, all stamps have a different value. One speaks of a stamp series both with what are usually so-called special stamps appearing at the same time as well as so-called definitive stamps that appear over years in succession . Accordingly, definitive stamps are used longer and are usually better known, for example the German post horn set , which was valid between 1951 and 1954.
The individual issues of postage stamps that only appear for one postage value are not a series.
While the distinction between definitive stamps and postage stamps cannot always be determined unequivocally, there are often clearer features for the series, with exceptions being possible:
- There is a subject.
- All postage stamps have the same size and format, the same paper and other uniform characteristics, but the imprint (color, value) is different.
- The design comes from an artist.
- Publication date is either
- several days, some of which are years apart (definitive stamps)
- The motif is kept rather simple, often only one or two printing colors are used (mostly gravure printing )
- a certain day (special stamps)
- The brand motif is lavishly designed and mostly appears in offset four-color printing; For charitable purposes ( charity stamp ), a surcharge is levied ( surcharge stamp ), which cannot be offset against the postage
6 franc welfare stamps 1957 with surcharge Saar
12 francs
15 francs
30 francs
Postage stamp series as special stamps are mostly annual series. Well-known series are “ Tag der Briefmarken ” (Germany, Austria ), “Pro Patria” and “Pro Juventute” (Switzerland) or “For the youth”, “For the sport” (Germany) and also “ Europe ”.
