In philately, a mint stamp is a stamp which is in its original state of issue, is unused, has never been mounted and has full gum, if issued with gum. The term applies equally to postage stamps and revenue stamps.
In practice, the term is used within philately to refer to any stamp that appears to be unused, including those without gum, or previously hinged.
Unlike other collectibles, a mint stamp may be in poor condition but still be regarded as being in mint condition as long as it is apparently unused.
Read more about Mint Stamp: Variations, Value, Tampering
Famous quotes containing the word stamp:
“Now stamp the Lord’s Prayer on a grain of rice,
A Bible-leaved of all the written woods
Strip to this tree: a rocking alphabet,
Genesis in the root, the scarecrow word,
And one light’s language in the book of trees.”
—Dylan Thomas (1914–1953)