AJ's World Stamp Dealers Index
Often used Acronyms, Abbreviations and Symbols

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INITIALS or ACRONYMS
(limited to often referenced or cross-referenced ones)

See Also: Abbreviations below.

AAMSAmerican Air Mail Society
AIEPAssociation Internationale des Experts Philatélique
AIJPAssociation Internationale des Journalistes Philatéliques
APEXAmerican Philatelic Expertizing Service
APHVAllgemeiner Postwertzeichen-Händler-Verband e.V.
APSAmerican Philatelic Society
ASCATAssoc. Intn'l des Editeurs de catalogues de timbres-poste
ASDAAmerican Association of Stamp Dealers
ATAAmerican Topical Society
ASEPAssociation Suisse des Experts Philatéliques
BDBBundesverbandes des Deutschen Briefmarkenhandels
BDPhBund Deutscher Philatelisten E.V.
BPPBund Philatelitische Prüfer
IFSDAInternational Federation of Stamp Dealers' Associations
FIPFederation International de Philatelie
NSDANational Stamp Dealers Association
PSEProfessional Stamp Experts
PTSPhilatelic Traders' Society
RDPRoll of Distinguished Philatelists (ref only)
SBPVScheizerischer Briefmarken-Prüfer-Verband (ref only)


 
ABBREVIATIONS
  • '.xx' (where '.xx' = '.aa'-'.zz' (.lower case); e.g. .us, .ca, .cn ..
    - see: 'Basic Country Codes' below
  • 'XX' (Where 'XX' = 'AA' - 'ZZ' [UPPER CASE]; e.g. [DE], [DU], [EN, JP] ...; enclosed in square brackets '[ ]' - indicates a language used.
  • Br, (Fr), (Gr) .. ; {in Mixed Cases} are territoral abbrevations to be found here.
  • @ face = sells for 'face value' the original cost at a post office or marked on the stamp(s) ...
  • a/o = 'as of' ; s/b followed by a date
  • aka = 'also know as'
  • Am. = America
  • Asoc or Assoc = Association
  • bk = book(s) , bklt = booklet
  • Br = British
  • c. (w/yr date) - 'circa' or 'around the time' ; e.g. 'c.98' = circa 1998
    note: starting in 2000 dates may be abbreviaed; e.g. 11/1 = Nov. 2001
  • C'wealth = Commonwealth
  • cc = 'carbon copy' (archaic but means 'a copy' of an 'original'),
    cc = (when used in a dealer listing) 'credit card' accepted.
  • cat. = 'catalog' / 'catalogue'; as in sells them, pub. them, or cat. price ...
  • cf, cf., cf. = 'compare with' or 'compare to'  
  • Cite = an initial full listing for contact; may be multiples (cf. 'reference')
  • ck = check it; confirm it, .... i.e.: 'be sure'; if possible (a note to 'self')
  • CN = 'in Chinese'
  • Dir = Directory
  • Dlr = Dealer (a beliver!); nominaly..., monitarlity..., situationaly... ... ...
  • duh = duh!.
  • E. = East
  • EN = 'in English'
  • Fed = Federation or, potentially, 'Federal'
  • Fr = France or French
  • GB - Great Britain
  • Gr = Germany or GR 'in German'
  • incl = includes / including
  • Int'l = International
  • lit. = literature (cf 'bk', 'pub')
  • Ltd = Limited ; a British business designation.
    - has nothing to do with your (or their) abilities.
  • N. or No. = North
  • N/A, n/a = "No (snail mail) Address" listed on their website
    (Classically: 'Not Applicable')
  • N/I, n/i - New Issues (usually a service)
  • PB = plate block
  • pc or PC = Postcards
  • phcrd - phonecard
  • pkts = packets
  • Poss. = Possession
  • Pg = page - pgs: pages
  • p/h, P/H, P/Hist = 'postal history'
  • pub. = publish(er)(es)(ed)
  • q.v. = "which see" (go look at it!)  
  • ref/Ref. = noted or 'refered to' elsewhere (partial listing) {cf. 'xRef'}
  • rr = railroad
  • S. or So. = South
  • s/b = 'should be' - if not then it is my fault. aj.
  • Sec. = Secretary ; usually a contact person for a club
  • sic = 'as stated' - i.e. the title tells the tale.
  • S.I.E. = Stamp Issuing Entity; often simple as 'Entity'
  • ss, s/s = Souvineer Sheet(s)
  • Svc/svc = service / Service (function or Title)
  • Terr. = Territory
  • W. = West
  • ww, WW = worldwide
  • www (duh web)  
  • xRef = 'cross-reference'; follow to find relevant information... (cf. Cite)
  • (if any are missed: take a guess or ask or suggest one)
     
  • Basic Country Codes are standard Internet 'dot' address codes
    (Lessor designations appended to standard internet codes further define a location
    [e.g. .us-CA-la (here -la is 'Los Angeles'), -CA is 'California']
    or, sometimes, postal codes are used and are learned as you go)
    codes IN ALL CAPS and, usually, in '[square brackets]':
    represent linguinstic denotations; e.g. :
    CN = site is in Chinese,
    JP - Japanese,
    EN - English ...
    GR - German
    (most do not conform to country codes)
    e.g. 'SP' = 'Spanish' but Spain would be represented by '.es' or '.ES'
    though 'DE' is both 'in German' and {as '.de' or '.DE'} is 'Germany')

    •  
  • SYMBOLS

    : A favorite.
    (), {}, [] ; brackets or parenthesis indicate
    () ; regular parenthesis: a specialty or an alternate name
    [] ; square brackets: linguistic type
    {} ; fancy brackes: a note.
  • Some common elements with additonal available information:
    (+) = (Agent or Agency) of a Postal Authority (links to the listing)
    'Auction Agent'
    'Expertization'
    'eBay' or 'PayPal' (sic)
    Note: the use of a 'tilde' (~) [or a double '++'] after eBay/PayPal (e.g. 'bBay~) indicates additional similar (auction) resources
    Note: linked terms like FDC's etc. go to dedicated page(s).
  • · (a 'dot') or (»; double right caret) to the right of an index listing) in the:
    Dealers Index: indicates the dealer accepts PayPal
    Country Menus: indicates data is present.
  • '?' (The QUESTION: Got guts?, - do something! - write us with an answer or observation.)

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