Label (philately) facts for kids
A label (sometimes called a coupon or tab) in philately is a special part of a sheet of stamps. It's usually connected to a stamp by tiny holes (called perforation) or a thin white line if the stamps aren't perforated.
Even though it looks like a stamp, you can't use a label to mail a letter. That's because it doesn't have a face value (meaning it's not worth any money for postage) and it doesn't show which post office issued it. It's important not to confuse a label with a "gutter" (the space between stamps) or the blank edge of a stamp sheet.
Sometimes, labels are also sticky like stamps but have no postal value. They are often used to promote something, like a special event or a message.
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Stamp of the Soviet Union with a label about the Tree of Friendship in Sochi (1970)
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Stamp from Russia with a label about the Russian painter and writer Vasily Vereshchagin (1992)
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Mr. ZIP on a stamp sheet margin (this is NOT a label!). A US postage stamp from 1966 showing "The Boating Party" by Mary Cassatt
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Contents
What is a Philatelic Label?
A philatelic label is a piece of paper attached to a postage stamp. It looks like a stamp but doesn't have the same purpose. These labels are part of the original stamp sheet. They are often separated from the actual stamps by perforations, which are small holes that make it easy to tear them apart.
Why Labels Are Not Stamps
The main reason a label isn't a stamp is that it can't be used to send mail. Stamps have a specific value printed on them (their face value), which tells you how much postage they are worth. They also show the name of the country or postal service that issued them. Labels don't have any of these things. They are just extra pieces of paper.
How Labels Are Used
Labels are often used for special purposes. They might carry a message, a picture, or a symbol related to the stamp's design. For example, a label might show a logo for an event the stamp celebrates. They can also be used for advertising or to give extra information about the stamp's topic.
Labels vs. Other Stamp Parts
It's easy to confuse labels with other parts of a stamp sheet.
Gutter (Philately)
A gutter is the blank space or margin between blocks of stamps on a sheet. It's just empty paper, sometimes with printing on it, but it's not meant to be a part of the stamp itself. Labels, however, are usually designed to look like they belong with the stamp, even if they aren't for postage.
Sheet Margins
The margins are the wide, blank edges around the entire sheet of stamps. These margins often have printing on them, like the name of the printer, copyright information, or even special symbols. Labels are usually found right next to a stamp, not on the far edge of the sheet.
Collecting Labels
Many stamp collectors, called philatelists, enjoy collecting stamps with their attached labels. These sets can be more interesting and sometimes more valuable than just the stamp alone. They show the complete design and purpose of the original stamp issue.
Related pages
See also
In Spanish: Viñeta (filatelia) para niños
