A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Z: 1: Scott Catalog number prefix for Special Purpose (Japan). 2: (in circle) control mark on back of 1946 regular issue used in Spanish Morocco. 3: Bolivia used its 1928 air mail issue with this overprint for mail carried on Hindenburg. 4: overprint on stamps of Russia for Armenia. 5: with star overprint, on stamps of Russia, Transcaucasion Federated Republics
$Z: dollar, currency unit in Zimbabwe
Za: (Sp.) Zaragoza (Saragossa), Spain pre-adhesive postmark
Z.A.: initials of “Zapadnaya Armiya,” (Russian) Western Army, Latvia 1919
Zacatecas: district in Mexico, overprint on stamps of Mexico, 1914
Za Crveni Krst: inscription on Yugoslavia postal tax stamp for Red Cross
Zadní strana: (Czech.) back (side), reverse (side), other side
Zadonsk: city in Russia, Zemstvo local post; 1878-1914, Zemstvo
Zafarralla: city in Spain, Spanish Civil War local post, Nationalist forces, 1937
Zafirkék: (Hung.) sapphire blue (color)
Zafra: city in Spain, Spanish Civil War local post, Nationalist forces, 1936
Z. Afr. Republiek (Republik): inscription for Transvaal, South African Republic
Zagazig: city in Egypt, Interpostal Seals used 1864-84, Interpostal Seals
Zahl: (Ger.) number
Zahldienstmarken: (Ger.) official statistical sampling stamps, Prussia and Baden for lump sum payments
Zahlungsanweisung: (Ger.) money order
Zahnfehler: (Ger.) perforation fault
Zähnung: (Ger.) perforation
Zähnungsschlussel: (Ger.) perforation guage
Záhyb: (Czech.) crease, bend, fold
Zaire: central Africa, formerly Congo Democratic Republic; currency: 100 sengi = 1 li-kuta (1967), 100 makuta = 1 Zaire, 100 centimes = 1 franc (1998) 1885, July 1: King Leopold II of Belgium named himself king as area personal possession, 1886, Jan.1: first stamps depicted Leopold, king and sole owner, inscribed “Etat du Congo,” 1908, Nov. 15: Belgium annexed the territory as the Congo Free State, 1960, June 30: named The Congo Democratic Republic, 1961-64: United Nations peace-keeping force in country, 1971, Nov.: changed name to Republic of The Zaire, 1971, Dec. 18: No.1. 4 kuta gold and multi, first stamp as Zaire, 1975: first official stamp; Belgian Congo, Congo Democratic Republic
Zaiss, F. & Co.: inscription on Match stamp; Private die proprietary stamps
Zakarpats’ka, Zakarpatskaya: (Russ.) Celistvosti – Podkarpatská Rus#Zakarpatskaya Ukrania: (Russ.) local post, Trans-Carpathian Ukraine, 1944:
Zakaznoe: (Russ.) registered
Zalamea la Real: city in Spain, Spanish Civil War local post, Nationalist forces, 1937
Zálepka: (Czech.) letter-card
Zalotkop: currency unit, Poland, Russian occupation
Zambezia: Mozambique District, Portuguese East Africa, administered by the Zambesia Company; currency: 1,000 reis = 1 milreis 1894: No.1, 5 reis yellow, overprinted Zambezia on Portuguese colonial stamps, first newspaper stamp, 1913-20: provinces of Quelimane and Tete had own stamps, 1922: used Quelimane issues, currently uses stamps of Mozambique; Quelimane, Tete
Zambia: southern Africa; formerly Northern Rhodesia; currency: 12 pence = 1 shilling, 20 shillings = 1 pound, 100 ngwee =1 kwacha (1968) 1889-1924: administered by the British South Africa Company, 1890: stamps of the British South Africa Company, 1924: area divided into Northern and Southern Rhodesia, 1925: stamps inscribed Northern Rhodesia, 1954: became part of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland, 1964, Oct.24: No.1, 3 pence blue-brown and green, first stamps with new name of Zambia, first postage due stamp, 1967, March 22: joined the UPU; Rhodesia, Northern, Rhodesia and Nyasaland
Zamboanga: local post overprinted stamps for area in Philippines, operated by Spanish military, 1898
Zamora: city in Spain, Spanish Civil War local post, Nationalist forces, 1936
Zangezur: part of Armenia and Azerbaijan; surcharge on stamps of Russia for use as provisionals, 1919
Zante: Ionian Islands
Zanzibar: Tanzania
Zanzibar: overprint on stamps of British East Africa, India, 1895-96; British East Africa, India
Zanzibar: The Road to Zanzibar inscription, unissued Great Britain cinderella by David Horry, 2001
Zanzibar: off coast of Tanganyika in East Africa; Sultanate made up of islands of Zanzibar and Pemba,; currency: 12 pies = 1 anna, 16 anna = 1 rupee, 100 cents = 1 rupee (1908), 100 cents = East African shilling (1935) 1875: used stamps of India, 1890: became a British protectorate, 1890, Aug. 27-July 31, 1891: German post office, 1894-1904: French post office operated, overprint/surcharge on stamps of France, 1895, Nov. 10: No.1, ½ anna, green, using stamps of British India with “Zanzibar” overprint, 1896: stamps of British East Africa overprinted “Zanzibar,” 1896, Sept. 30: first Zanzibar designs, 1897: French postage due issued, used in French post office, 1904, July 31: French post office closed, British took control over protectorate,. 1931: first postage due stamp, 1963, Dec.10: independent member of British Commonwealth, 1964, Jan. republic established as People’s Republic of Zanzibar, earlier stamps overprinted “Jamhuri 1964” (Republic), 1964, Feb. 28: first stamps as republic, 1964, April 26: Zanzibar joined Tanganyika, 1964, July.: United Republic of Tanganyika and Zanzibar, renamed Tanzania, 1965, Oct. 17: first stamps inscribed Zanzibar, 1968, July 1: stamps replaced with those of Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania; now part of the United Republic of Tanzania
Zanzibar, French Offices: currency: 16 annas = 1 rupee 1894: No.1, ½ anna on 5 centime green, surcharge on stamps of France, 1897: “Poste France Zanzibar” surcharge printed on the margins of sheets of french stamps
Zanzibar-Tanzania: Zanzibar, 1965-66
Zanzibaz: British Colonial Royal Wedding frames from book Surreal Stamps and Unreal Stickers
Západ: (Czech.) West
Zapadna Bosna: Bosnia local overprint for Western Bosnia, Rebel Muslim ministate, Western Bosnia, 1993-95
Západni Evropa: (Czech.) Western Europe
Západni Ukrajinsky: (Czech.) Western Ukraine
Západni Nemecko: (Czech.) Western Germany
Západni Samoa: (Czech.) Western Samoa
Z.A.R.: (Zuid Africaansche Republiek) (Afrik.) South African Republic, overprint on stamps of Cape of Good Hope for British occupation of Vryeburg; Zuid Afrikaansche Republiek, South African Republic
Zara: Dalmatian seaport, part of Austro-Hungarian Empire; 1918: taken by Italian forces from Austria, 1920: ceded to Italy, 1923: made a free port, 1929-42: Italian enclave on Yugoslav territory, 1943, Sept. 8: occupied by Germany, overprint “Deutsche Besetzung Zara” (German occupation Zara) on stamps of Italy, 1945: annexed to Yugoslavia
Zaragoza: province in Spain, Spanish Civil War local post, Nationalist and Republican forces, 1936-37
Zaragoza School: bogus local post, Spanish, 1953?
Zárí: (Czech.) September
Zarkach: Poland-Zarki local post
Zarska Bulgarska Posta: Royalist Bulgaria-Government in Exile labels, 1964
Zarki: local post, Poland, German occupation, 1918
Zawiercie: local post, Poland, German occupation, 1916
Z.B.S.: Germany: Zeitungs-Bucher-Spedition. Germanlocal post forBeuthen,Gleiwitz,Königshütten, Neisse, Oppein, 1896
Z.B.V.B. Post: United Kingdom postal strike: local post 1971
Zdunska Wola: city in German-occupied Russian Poland, local post overprint, 1918-20
ZD., Zusammendruck: (Ger.) se-tenant
Zece: (Rom.) ten (number)
Zechmeyer’s transfers: German toymaker, made postage stamp transfers reproducing stamps for children
Zefta: city in Egypt, Interpostal Seals used 1864-84, Interpostal Seals
Zegelregt: inscription on revenue stamps for use in Transvaal, 1895
Zeichnung: (Ger.) design, artwork printed portion of a stamp, as distinguished from the surrounding margin of blank paper
Zeitung: (Ger.) newspaper, periodical or journals
Zeitungsmarke: (Ger.) inscription on stamps of Austria, Germany for newspaper stamp
Zeitungsmarke Deutsches Reich: (Ger.) inscription on stamps of Germany for newspaper stamp
Zeitungs Post Stempel: (Ger.) newspaper postage stamps
Zeitungs Staempel: (Ger.) inscription on first newspaper stamp of Austria
Zeitz: city in Germany, Courier local post, 1893-1900
Zejla: city in Somaliland Protectorate, Interpostal Seals used 1864-84, Interpostal Seals
Zelaya: Nicaragua Province, aka Bluefields; 1904-05: first stamps issued, “B.Dpto.Zelaya” overprint to prevent currency manipulation, used to fill dealers’ orders, never regularly issued or used, 1909: first official stamps used overprint “Oficial B,” 1912: Zelaya and Cabo Gracias provinces’ currency was on a silver basis, rest of Nicaragua used paper money separate stamps issued; Nicaragua, Cabo Gracias a Dios
Zelená: (Czech.) green (color)
Zelenavy: (Czech.) greenish (color)
Zelenomodrá: (Czech.) green-blue (color)
Zelenosedá: (Czech.) green-grey (color)
Zelenozlutá: (Czech.) green-yellow (color)
Zeleny: (Czech.) green (color)
Zeleznice: (Czech.) railroad, railway
Zellin, J. H.& Co.: inscription on Medicine stamp; Private die proprietary stamps
Zemetresení: (Czech.) earthquake
Zemliansk: city in Russia, Zemstvo local post; 1874-80, Zemstvo
Zemstvos: (Russ.) term used for 2,427 local stamps issued by 345 Rural Districts (Zemstvos) in Russia, had their own regulations and postage rates; 1865-1917; mail could be taken to other local villages or put into the state post office where official Russian stamps had to added
Zenkor: city in Russia, Zemstvo local post; 1860-1915, Zemstvo
Zenobia: April Fool’s spoof using Hawaii and the Netherlands designs
Zensierte post: (Ger.) censored mail
Zensurstempel: (Ger.) censor cancel
Zenter: (Ger.) center
Zentraler Kurierdienst: (Ger.) “Courier Mail” overprint issued in 1947 by German Democratic Republic for sealing official correspondence, used for officials, 1956-57
Zentriert: (Ger.) location of the stamp design on the piece of paper it is printed on; if it is exactly in the middle, it is called a “perfectly centered stamp.”
Zentrierung: (Ger.) centering
Zepelinová Posta: (Czech.) Celistvosti – Zepelinová Posta
Zeppelin: German airship built by Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin, his firm Luftschiffbau Zeppelin or its related (Goodyear Zeppelin) or successor firms (Deutsche Zeppelin Reederei)
Zeppelin: overprint on stamps of Finland and Iceland, airmails, 1930
Zeppelin Mail: stamp-like label privately printed by A.C. Roesler
Zeppelin Post: Liechtenstein airmails
Zeppelins (Zepps): stamps issued for use in conjunction with the flights of the Graf Zeppelin and other rigid airships; covers carried on these ships are called “Zeppelin Covers.”
Zero: postal administration mark for invalid stamps used on mail at country of origin
Zerrissen: (Ger.) torn
ZES: Zil Elwannyen Sesel
Zf., Zahnfehler: (Ger.) perforation fault
Z Grill: two copies exist of the US 1867 1¢ blue Z grill, name not related to the shape of the grill; discoverer, William L. Stevenson could not decide to which family of grills the stamps belonged and called it “Z.”
Zi: (Rom.) day
Zickzackformig: (Ger.) zig-zag roulette format
Zieber’s One Cent Dispatch: U. S. local post, Pittsburgh, Pa., 1851
Ziegelrot: (Ger.) brick red color
Zieher cards: postcards printed and sold by Otto Zieher, Munich, Germany in the early 1900s
Zielfahrt: (Ger.) flight
Zienkof: city in Russia, Zemstvo local post; 1878-1916, Zemstvo
Ziffer: (Ger.) figure, numeral
Zig Zag lines: watermark seen on Korea, 1884
Zig-zag roulette: the perforation cuts resemble the teeth of a saw
Zil Eloigne Sesel: (Creol) Zil Elwannyen Sesel
Zil Elwagne Sesel: Zil Elwannyen Sesel
Zil Elwannyen Sesel: (ZES) outer islands, south of Seychelles, Aldabra, Farquhar and Des Roches of Seychelles; 1968-76: formerly part of the British Indian Ocean territory; 1980, June 20: No.1, 5¢; multicolor, stamps inscribed “Zil Eloigne Sesel” sold from the m.v. Cinq Juin, as a traveling post office, 1982, July 22: stamps inscribed “Zil Elwagne Sesel Seychelles,” stamps of ZES used when post offices ran out of Seychelles stamps, 1992, Dec. last new stamps appeared, plenty of stock on hand; British Indian Ocean Territory, Seychelles
Zillions of Stamps: Linn’s Stamp News online retail website
Zimbabwe: southeastern Africa, formerly Southern Rhodesia; currency: 100 cents = 1 dollar 1890-1924: stamps of British South African Company, 1924: stamps inscribed “Southern Rhodesia,” 1980, April 18: No.1, 1¢ multicolor, first stamp as Republic of Zimbabwe, 1981, July 31: joined the UPU, first postage due stamp
Zimska Pomoc: “Winter Help,” overprint on stamps of Italy for occupation by Germany of Ljubljana, Yugoslavia
Zimtbraun: (Ger.) cinnamon (color)
Zincography: printing from zinc plates
Zinc orthosilicate: a phosphorescent suspension that glows under shortwave ultraviolet light; used as a taggant
Zip: a cartoon character, designed by Howard B. Wilcox, looking like a postman printed on the margins of U.S. stamps and booklet panes since 1963. The man is referred to as Mr. Zip and is used to encourage people to use the Zone Improvement Plan code. It is always collected attached to the postage stamp. Mr. Zip officially retired in 1983, but he remained on the selvage of some stamps until 1986
Zip+4: Addition of four digits to the basic Zip Code for sorting by carrier route and specific location; Zip code, sector, segment
Zip+4 barcode: a nine digit POSTNET (POSTal Numeric Encoding Technique) consisting of 52 vertical bars
Zip+4 presort: bulk mail presorted to the nine-digit Zip Code and bundled
Zip block: a margin block of U.S. stamps bearing the inscription “Use Correct Zip Code” in the salvage
Zip code: U.S. postal code, uses five numbers; first introduced in the late 1960s, some early codes listed only three numbers; designates a specific geographic location; first three digits identify the delivery area of a sectional center facility or a major city post office ; the next two digits(fourth and fifth) digits identify the delivery area of an associate post office, post office branch, or post office station; sector, segment.
Zipster Plus: a self-service, variable-denomination, coin-operated postage franking machine tested in postal stations April 1, 1992
Zisemann, Griesheim & Co.: inscription on Match stamp; Private die proprietary stamps
Zitronengelb: (Ger.) citron (color)
Zittau: 1: city in Germany, Express-Packet-Beförderung, local post, 1887. 2: city in Germany, Verkehrsanstalt Courier, local post, 1898-1900
ZKD: (Zentraler Kurierdienst) (Ger.) official mail in the DDR between government agencies and industries
Zkousel: (Czech.) expertized (by)
Zkusmy tisk(y): (Czech.) proof(s), trial print(ing)(s)
Zl, Zloty: currency unit in Poland
Zlatá: (Czech.) gold (metallic color)
Zlutá: (Czech.) yellow (color)
Zlutohnedá: (Czech.) yellow-brown, sienna (color)
Zlutoolivova: (Czech.) yellow-olive (color)
Zlutooranzová: (Czech.) yellow-brown, sienna (color)
Zlutooranzová: (Czech.) yellow-orange (color)
Zluty: (Czech.) yellow (color)
Z.M.: overprint on stamps of Mexico for Zacatecas provisionals
Znalci: (Czech.) experts
Známka: (Czech.) stamp, postage stamp
Známka na vystrizku: (Czech.) postage stamp(s) on piece of paper or envelope, or on parcel clippings; Vystrizek
Známka nezoubkovaná: (Czech.) imperforate stamp
Známka potravní dane: (Czech.) consumption tax stamp
Známka postovne znehodnocená: (Czech.) postally cancelled stamp
Známka postovním razítkem: (Czech.) postally used stamp, Upotrebená
Známka pro obchodní tiskopisy: (Czech.) printed matter stamp
Známka s deskovou znackou: (Czech.) stamp with a plate marking
Známka s razítkem ochoty: (Czech.) stamp being cancelled to order
Znamkové pole: (Czech.) plate position, sheet position
Známkove sasitky: (Czech.) stamp booklets
Známky: (Czech.) stamps
ZOB: inscription on brick pictured in seal that is an abbreviation in Polish for the Jewish Battle Organization that fought against Nazis in the Warsaw ghetto uprising, 1943
ZOFK: Zona Occupata Fiumano Kupa (Fiume Kupa Occupied Zone) overprint on stamps of Italy for Fiume; Fiume
Zöld: (Hung.) green (color)
Zöldfoki Szigetek: (Hung.) Cape Verde Island
Zoll: (Ger.) customs
Zollverein: a customs union of the North German States, formed in 1818
Zolotonosha: city in Russia, Zemstvo local post; 1880-1916, Zemstvo
Zomerzegel: inscription on semipostals of Netherlands
Zona: (Sp.) zone
Zona de Ocupatie PTT 1919 Romania: (Rom.) overprint on stamps of Hungary, Romanian occupation, 1919
Zona de Protectorado Espanol en Marruecos: (Sp.) overprint on stamps of Spain for Spanish Morocco, 1916-25
Zona Occupata Fiumano Kupa: overprint on stamps of Yugoslavia, Italian Occupation
Zone: a number that was part of US addresses until the start of the ZIP Code in 1963; inserted between the name of the city and the state
Zone Francaise: inscription on stamps of France, occupation of Germany
Zone Francaise Briefpost: overprint on stamps of Germany, French occupation, 1945-46
Zone Matitima Terrestre: (Sp.) found on fiscals for port dues
Zone Improvement Plan: Zip
Zoubkováne: (Czech.) perforated
Zoubkováni: (Czech.) gauge of perforation
Zoulouland: (Fr.) Zululand
ZP: auction abbreviation for zeppelin
Zraca Posta: Trieste, Zone B, issued by Yugoslav military government
Zrinyi Miklos (I), S.S.: steamship marking of the Danube Steam Navigation Company built around 1840s for service in the lower Danube
Zrinyi Miklos (II), S.S.: steamship marking of the Danube Steam Navigation Company built around 1850s, for lower Danube lines
Zrinyi Miklos (III), S.S.: steamship marking of the Danube Steam Navigation Company built 1910
Z.Raketenstadt: (Ger.) Zucker rocket label, 1933
Z.S.G.T.: (Zala Somogyi Steamship Co.), Hungary local post stamps, ferry service on Lake Balaton, 1873-76
Zu: Zumstein catalog
Zubehör: (Ger.) equipment used in the aid of stamp identification and handling
Zugänglichkett: (Ger.) availability
Zuid Afrikaansche Republiek (ZAR): (Afrikaans) South African Republic, Transvaal
Zuidwest Afrika: (Africaans) overprint on stamps of South Africa for S.W. Africa, 1923
Zukleber: (Ger.) sticker used to seal opened mail
Zulassungsmarke: (Ger.) inscription for parcel stamps of German Feldpost; “Concession stamp,” required on a letter sent by the military during World War II
Zulia: bogus, Venezuelan seceding state,1894?
Zululand: east coast of southern Africa, formerly part of South Africa; currency: 12 pence = 1 shilling, 20 shillings = 1 pound 1884, Aug.16: the Transvaal, former area of Zululand, 1886-pre: used stamps of Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek (ZAR), 1886, Jan.: first local stamps with handstamped value and date; manufactured by Pietermaritzburg (Natal) printers and P Davis & Son as local printer inscribed “Nieuwe Republiek Zuid-Afrika.” 1887, May 9: Britain annexed area, became a colony, 1888, May 1: No.1, ½ penny vermilion, postal agreement with Natal, “Zululand ” overprint on stamps of Great Britain, 1888: “Zululand” overprint on revenue stamps of Nepal, joined the UPU, 1888, July 21: became part of the Transvaal, South African Republic, 1891, June 27: Nepal revenue issue proclaimed a postage stamp, 1894: first, and only, stamps issued inscribed “Zululand,” 1897, Dec. 31: colony of Zululand annexed to Natal, 1898, June 30: Zululand stamps discontinued, stamps of Natal used, 1903, Jan.: transferred to Natal, part of the Union of South Africa; Natal
Zumstein: European series of catalogues
Z.u.n.Z.: Armenia
Zusammendruck: (Ger.) se-tenant
Zum, Zm: Zumstein Specialized Switzerland and Liechtenstein Postage Stamp Catalog
Zur ansicht: (Ger.) on approval
Zur / Devisenüberwachung / zollamtlich / geöffnet: (Ger.) Opened by Customs to Inspect for Currency, seal used to reseal envelope after inspection of mail for currency inspection, 1930s
Zurich: inscription on Swiss cantonal stamps for Zurich, March 1843-50
Zurino: “Quick,”overprint on newspaper stamps of Hungary used by Croatians for special delivery
Zurück: (Ger.) return
Zusammendruck: (Ger.) se-tenant; two or more unseparated stamps having different colors, denominations, or designs; se-tenant is French for “joined together.”
Zusammenhangend: (Ger.) a connected pair of strip of stamps
Zusatzfrankierung: (Ger.) additional postage
Zysatzlich: (Ger.) : increased in any manner, additional
Zuschlag: (Ger.) surcharge
Zwangszuschlagsmarke: (Ger.) compulsory surtax stamp
Zwart: (Dut.) black color
Zweifarbig: (Ger.) bicolored
Zweisprachig: (Ger.) bilingual, two languages on the same stamp
Zweiten Weltkreiges: (Ger.): second World War (WW 11) , (1939 / 1945)
Zwickau: 1: city in Germany, Courier local post, 1893-1900. 2: city in Germany, Express-Packet-Verkehr local post, 1889
Zwischensteg: (Ger.) gutter
Zwykla: (Pol.) regular/ordinary stamps of Poland
Zypern: (Ger.) Cyprus
Z.Z.Prac.Poczt. i Tel: Trade Union of the Post and Telecommunications Workers, Polish charity label for group that organized donations.