| Term |
Meaning |
| Underprint |
A fine printing underlying
the design of a stamp, most often used to deter
counterfeiting. |
| Ungummed |
A stamp without gum.
Ungummed stamps are either stamps issued without gum
or an uncanceled gummed stamp that has had its gum
soaked off. Many countries in tropical climates have
issued stamps without gum. |
| Unhinged |
A stamp without hinge marks,
but not necessarily with original gum. |
| Universal Postal Union (UPU) |
An international
organization formed in Bern, Switzerland, in 1874, to
regulate and standardize postal usage and to
facilitate the movement of mail between member
nations. Today, most nations belong to the UPU. See
UPU section of this almanac. |
| Unmounted mint |
Stamps in pristine
condition, as issued from the post office, and which
have never been hinged or mounted in any way. Such
stamps tend to command a premium over mounted mint or
unused stamps. |
| Unused |
The term signifying that a
stamp has not been used in the post and is
consequently not postmarked or otherwise defaced,
though it may be partially or wholly without gum or
have been so heavily or frequently hinged as no longer
to be regarded as mint. |
| UPU |
Universal Postal Union. An
international organization formed in Bern,
Switzerland, in 1874, to regulate and standardize
postal usage and to facilitate the movement of mail
between member nations. Today, most nations belong to
the UPU.
|
