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Abbreviations used in our catalogues:

· um – unmounted mint, same as never hinged

· vf mint –lightly mounted mint - any faults are described:-

· for example, ‘vf mint, 1x short perf ‘ means the stamp has 1 short (not pulled) perf otherwise it is very fine mint

· f mint – reasonable mount for the period, any faults are described

· fresh mint - mint not quite ‘fine’ but still very good, hmm – heavily mounted mint

· vfu - very fine used – a light cancel for the period, fresh and without faults:–

· on modern issues this means a neat circular steel cancel

· on early issues it means a light or crisp numeral, duplex or Maltese Cross cancel

· gu – good used, very collectable but not quite fine, - g-f good to fine, better than good but not perfect

· FFC – first flight cover, FDC– first day cover, fdi - first day of issue circular cancel, Sp h/s – special handstamp

· Mi – Michel catalogue, Yv – Yvert

· c£50 – catalogued by Stanley Gibbons at £50 (using the SG catalogue current at the time of describing)

· c320DM – catalogued by Michel at 320 German Marks - c500f catalogued by Yvert at 500 French francs

· blk 8 – block of 8; cvr – cover; reg env – registered envelope; ~50 – approximately 50; M/sh, MS – miniature sheet

· LM RM - booklets with left margin, right margin

· 2B, CB, LB, RB phosphor bands – 2 band, centre band, left band, right band

· EEH - extra extension hole – refers to 2 perforation holes when there is normally one in a cylinder block or booklet pane margin

· pl12 plate 12

· MX - Maltese Cross cancel

· r5/2 variety on the second stamp in row 5

· BR, BL, TR, TL bottom right, bottom left, top right, top left

· HPF#21, FF Head Plate Flaw on stamp number 21 of the sheet, Frame Flaw

· LP, RP - left pane, right pane

· H&G – Higgins and Gage postal stationery catalogue

· cds – circular or counter date stamp

· Cert – with certificate of authenticity

· p14 – perf 14

· SG351(6) shade number 6 in the SG Specialised catalogue where the basic stamp is SG351

· 56pp illus book with 56 pages including illustrations

· pres pack – presentation pack (official Post Office Issue)

Avoid disappointment: see guide to successful bidding.

The reference numbering systems for book types, decimal books (DB), decimal panes (DP) and perforation types, which are used in this listing are the copyright of the Great Britain Decimal Stamp BookStudy Circle (GB DSB SC) and are used with the Circle’s kind permission. The Membership Secretary is Tony Wilkins, 3 Buttermere Close, Brierley Hill, West Midlands DY5 3SD.