There are a
couple of stamp types to get familiar with. Below we will
explain the most common types.
MINT NEVER HINGED (MNH)
These are stamps that don't have any cancellation marks on
them. They have never been hinged before and the gum is
still on the back of the stamp.
MINT HINGED (MH)
These
are stamps that don't have any cancellation marks on them,
but has been hinged before. You can see on the picture of
the back of the stamp that it has a square mark. Hinge is
still attached to the stamp.
USED STAMPS
This
is the same stamp as above but it has been used. You can
clearly see the cancellation mark over it. These are the
most common stamps a beginner collector will find.
FIRST DAY COVERS
First
Day Covers are envelopes with stamps on, and usually a
picture as well, that have been issued on the day the stamps
were first released. They normally have a special postmark
on them to commemorate this day.
These are stamps that don't have any cancellation marks on
them. They have never been hinged before and the gum is
still on the back of the stamp.
These
are stamps that don't have any cancellation marks on them,
but has been hinged before. You can see on the picture of
the back of the stamp that it has a square mark. Hinge is
still attached to the stamp.
This
is the same stamp as above but it has been used. You can
clearly see the cancellation mark over it. These are the
most common stamps a beginner collector will find.
First
Day Covers are envelopes with stamps on, and usually a
picture as well, that have been issued on the day the stamps
were first released. They normally have a special postmark
on them to commemorate this day.