Grading Conditions

M           Mint, never hinged

MLH       Mint, lightly hinged

MH         Mint, hinged

U            Used

xf            extra fine

vf            very fine

fvf           fine-very fine

f              fine

vg           very good

a             average

Other Abbreviations

add          addressed

arr           arrangement

B             bottom

B&H         Barefoot British Commonwealth Revenue catalog

bklt           booklet

blk            block, black

ccl            cancel

c               cachet

CDS          circular date stamp

cr              crease

diff sh         different shade

dist            disturbed

FDC           first day cover, first day cancel

h, horiz       horizontal

h/b             herringbone

h/p             hand printed

h/s             hand stamped

impt           imprint

L, lt            left

LL              lower left

mm            millimeter

ng              no gum

no, #          number

perf            perforation, perforated

PF cert      Philatelic Foundation certification

pl                plate

pr                pair

PSE cert    Professional Stamp Experts certification

R, rt            right

rc                rounded corner

reg              registered mail

rem             remnant

S/S             souvenir sheet

SG              Stanley Gibbons catalog

sht               sheet

sm               small

SON            socked on nose cancel

st                 straight

T                  top

UL               upper left

unadd          unaddressed

UR              upper right

v, vert           vertical

var               variety

vd                E.S.J. van Dam Canadian Revenue Stamp Catalogue

wgai             without gum as issued