Reprint

A reprint is a stamp printed from the original plates, stones or dies after the stamp has ceased to be current. Reprints are not forgeries — they come from genuine printing material — but they are also not the issued stamp, and they are normally worth far less than originals.

Why Reprints Were Made

• For collectors. Postal authorities in the 19th century sometimes reprinted obsolete stamps to sell to collectors or for exhibitions.
• For official records and presentation. Some administrations printed sets for archives, dignitaries or the Universal Postal Union.
• By private parties. When old plates were sold or passed into private hands, new owners sometimes printed from them. These private reprints are generally regarded less favourably than official ones.

Reprints Versus Reissues

A reissue is a new printing of a stamp that is valid for postage again — for example, when an old design is brought back into use. A reprint is intended for collectors or reference and is usually not valid for postage.

Identifying Reprints

Reprints frequently differ from originals in:

• Paper — different thickness, colour or texture.
• Colour — shades that do not match original printings.
• Gum — different type, or no gum.
• Perforation — different gauge, or imperforate where originals were perforated.
• Watermark — absent or different.
• Plate condition — cracks, wear or damage that developed after the original printing.

Specialised catalogues and handbooks describe the distinguishing features for many issues.

Collecting Reprints

Reprints are collected in their own right, especially official reprints of important classic stamps, which can be scarce. The key is that they are correctly identified and priced. A reprint sold as an original is misdescribed.