Plain paper stamp catalogue

42,073 items

Plain paper is handmade or machine-made paper with no special features and no further post-processing. The thickness of plain paper is between 0.06 mm and 0.10 mm. Depending on the situation, a different definition may be used. More

Plain paper is handmade or machine-made paper with no special features and no further post-processing. The thickness of plain paper is between 0.06 mm and 0.10 mm. The color is white with a slightly grayish haze. An alternative definition can be used depending on the situation.

Standard definition
For paper thickness we use the following definition:
• Thin paper : thickness less than 0.06 mm;
• Plain paper: thickness between 0.06 mm and 0.10 mm;
• Thick paper : thickness greater than 0.10 mm;
• Cardboard : paper with a thickness greater than 0.13 mm.

Alternative definition
It depends on the situation whether the uncoloured and uncoated aspect of plain paper is the most important, or whether the thickness is the most important characteristic.

In some cases, stamps within an issue, or similar issues, are issued with multiple thicknesses of paper. In that case, the above definition may be deviated from. Plain paper is then used to indicate the middle variant(s).

Preferably, the deviating definitions in micro- or millimeters are recorded in the background page at the time of issue.

Explanation and measurement method
Paper quality is usually expressed in grammage (g/m2). This is difficult to determine for stamps, so paper thickness is used as the derived measure. The thickness of paper can be measured with a micrometer with non-sharp measuring pins. The digital meters in particular are affordable and practical to use. Note that paper thickness is very difficult to determine on “the feel”!

Handmade paper
Some types of handmade paper have a watermark-like lines or diamond pattern. We distinguish:
• Horizontal striped paper ;
• Vertical striped paper ;
• Checkered paper .

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Number of stamps

42,073

Number of related items

Oldest item

North American Beaver (1852)