| Term |
Meaning |
| Obliteration |
1) A cancellation intended
solely to deface a stamp-also called a killer.
2) An overprint intended to deface a portion
of the design of a stamp, such as the face of
a deposed ruler. |
| Obsolete |
A stamp no longer available
from post offices, although possibly still
postally valid. |
| Occupation issue |
An issue released for use in
territory occupied by a foreign power. |
| Off-center |
A stamp design that is not
centered in relation to the edges of the
stamp. Generally, off-center stamps are less
desirable than stamps more nearly centered in
relation to the edges. Stamps that are
extremely off-center may be added to
collections as production freaks. |
| Offices abroad |
At various times, many
nations have maintained post offices in other
countries, usually because of the
unreliability of the local postal system. In
China and the Turkish Empire, especially, many
foreign nations maintained their own postal
systems as part of their extraterritorial
powers. Usually, special stationery and stamps
were used by these offices. Most consisted of
overprints on the regular issues of the
nations maintaining the offices. |
| Official |
Stamp or stationery issued
solely for the use of government departments
and officials. In many countries such items
may be available to collectors in unused
condition from the postal authority.
|
