Stamp glossary
Souvenir sheet
Souvenir sheet vs. miniature sheet
Wikipedia treats the two terms as synonyms for a small sheet of anywhere from one to about 25 stamps. Mystic Stamp Company draws a line between them: a souvenir sheet is issued for a commemorative purpose, with inscription or artwork in its border and usually in connection with a stamp show, while a miniature sheet is a sheet of 25 stamps or fewer without that commemorative purpose. Either way, the margin is part of the item.
Notable US souvenir sheets
- White Plains (1926), Scott 630. America's first souvenir sheet, issued October 18, 1926 at the International Philatelic Exhibition in New York City. Each sheet holds 25 of the 2¢ Battle of White Plains stamp, and only 107,398 sheets were printed.
- TIPEX (1936). Issued for the Third International Philatelic Exhibition, with four contemporary commemoratives, imperforate.
Like other US stamps issued since 1940, most modern souvenir sheets trade at or near face value.
Collecting and storing souvenir sheets
Keep sheets whole. Collectors want the complete sheet with its margin, so stamps cut out of a souvenir sheet lose most of what made them interesting. Store sheets flat in a large mount or a stock book page, away from heat and humidity, and handle them by the edges to avoid creases and fingerprints on the gum. See hinges and mounts for the options.
Souvenir sheet: common questions
What was the first US souvenir sheet?
The White Plains souvenir sheet (Scott 630), issued October 18, 1926 at the International Philatelic Exhibition in New York City: 25 stamps per sheet, 107,398 sheets printed.
Should I cut stamps out of a souvenir sheet?
No. The sheet is collected as a whole, margin included. Cutting it up almost always reduces its value.
Sources & References
- Souvenir sheet - Wikipedia
- 630 - 1926 White Plains Souvenir Sheet - Mystic Stamp Company
- Glossary of Stamp Terms - Mystic Stamp Company
- A Glossary of Terms for the Collector of United States Stamps - United States Stamp Society
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