Bn-Bz

BN: 1: auction abbreviation for topical or thematic subject balloons; 2: Brunei Darussalam, country code as used by UPU.
B N A: British North America (Canada, Newfoundland, etc.).
B & N (Brockert & Newton): private die match proprietary stamps.
B O: 1: consular overprint, SCADTA stamps of Colombia, sold in Bolivia, 1920s; 2: Bolivia, country code as used by UPU.
Board of Governors: governing body of the US Postal Service: includes nine governors who are appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate. The nine then elect a Postmaster General, who becomes a member of the Board. Those ten elect a Deputy Postmaster General who also serves on the Board; review the policies and practices of the Postal Service.
Boardwalk margins: stamps with wide margins: also referred to as Jumbo Stamps.
Boating stamp: US revenue stamp; 1960: required on certificate applications for motorboats of more than 10 horsepower.
B O B: see: Back of the Book.
Bobina: (It., Sp.) coil (of stamps).
Bobrof: local, Russian Zemstvo, 1872-79.
B. O. C.: (Ger.) Bayerische-Osterreichisch Correspondenz postmark; 1840s: Austrian-Bavarian postal treaty offered reduced rates.
Bocairente: local, Spanish civil war, 1937.
Bochum: locals, Germany, 1: Express Packet verkehr Brief, 1886-91; 2: Privat Stadbrief & Packetbedforderungsanstalt, 1897.
Bockenheim: local, Germany 1890-1900.
Bock, Schneider & Co.: private die match proprietary stamps.
Bod: (Dut.) auction (bid).
Bodensee Schiffspost: (Ger.) Lake Constance ship mail.
Boekdruk: (Dut.) typography.
Boers: stamps for use in Pietersburg, South Africa, captured by the British April 9, 1901.
Boes: Boesman: 1793-1968: Balloon Posts World Catalog.
Bogen: (Ger.) sheet (of stamps).
Bogenabklatsch: (Ger.) sheet offset.
Bogenanordnung: (Ger.) plate arrangement.
Bogenecke: (Ger.) corner of sheet (pane).
Bogenfeld: (Ger.) position of a stamp in a sheet.
Bogenförmig: (Ger.) name given to Canadian set of King George V of 1930-31 to differentiate them from previous series; also arched.
Bogenlage: (Ger.) plate position.
Bogenlochung: (Ger.) harrow perforation, full sheet perforated in one operation.
Bogenmitte: (Ger.) center of sheet.
Bogenpack: (Ger.) pack of sheets.
Bogen rand: (Ger.) sheet margin.
Bogensammlung: (Ger.) collection of complete sheets.
Bogensignatur: (Ger.) number in sheet margin.
Bogenwasserzeichen: (Ger.) sheet watermark.
Bogenzähler: (Ger.) sheet serial number.
Bogenzähnung: (Ger.) sheet perforation.
Boghuchary: local, Russian Zemstvo, 1871-73.
Bogorodsk: local, Russian Zemstvo, 1871-73.
Bogota, City of: local stamps, 1889-03, Colombia.
Bogus stamp: make-believe stamps from real places, usually made to defraud; see: Fantasy stamps, Cinderellas.
Bohemia and Moravia: Czechoslovakia; 1939: Czech provinces declared German protectorate, used overprinted Czech stamps, then stamps inscribed Bohmen and Mohren, 1942-1945: Deutsches Reich and Grossdeutsches Reich issues.
Bohcme et Moravie: (Fr.) Bohemia and Moravia.
Bohemia y Moravia: (Sp.) Bohemia and Moravia.
B O I C: British Occupation of the Italian Colonies.
Boite aux Lettres: (Fr.) letter box.
Boite Mobile: (Fr.) movable mail box at dockside or aboard ship; mid-1800s-World War II: used by ships crossing the English Channel.
Boite Postale: (Fr.) post-office box.
Boju ofu: bogus issue from Burma.
Bokhara: bogus labels for vassal state in Russia, issued in 1886.
Bolaffi (BOL): Bolaffi Specialized Postage Stamp Catalog, Italy and Colonies.
Boletin: (Sp.) magazine, bulletin.
Bolivar: former state of the United States of Colombia; 1863-1904: a department of Colombia.
Bolivia: originally part of the Inca Empire; 1825: became independent, 1863, Mar. 18-Apr. 29, 1863: Sr. Justiniano Garcia carried mails, 1867: first stamps issued, revenues, provisionals and postage dues used as postage.
Bolivia, forged issues: 1: 1868-69 Coat of Arms, Sc. 10-14. 2: 1897 Coat of Arms, Sc. 54.
Bolivie: (Fr.) Bolivia.
Bolivien: (Ger.) Bolivia.
Bolla Della Posta di Sicilia: (It.) Italian States, Two Sicilies post, 1859.
Bolladore: local, Italian liberation, "Co. Nazionaldi Liberazione," 1944.
Bollo Postale: (It.) San Marino.
Bolla Della Posta Napolitana: (It.) Italian States, Two Sicilies post, 1858.
Bollawollabongo: bogus labels, no information on source available.
Bolletta: (It.) San Marino parcel post.
Bollo: (It.) postmark.
Bollo di Franchigia: (It.) franchise stamp.
Bollo Straordinaria per le Posts: (It.) extraordinary stamp for the post; Italian State, Tuscany, newspaper tax stamp for foreign publications.
Bollullos del Condado: local, Spanish civil war, Nationalist forces,1936-38.
Bolschaya Alexandrovka: local, Soviet, German occupation, 1941-42.
Bomba Heads: King Ferdinand II, known as "King Bomba"; 1859: stamps for Kingdom of Two Sicilies featuring King's portrait with instructions that his royal image could not be marred in any way; a frame-shaped cancel devised to grant his wish.
Bonn: 1: local, Germany, Express-Packet-Verkehr, 1887; 2: Private-brief-Beforderung Rhenania, 1896-1900.
Bon(ne): (Fr.) good.
Bon(s): (Fr.) coupon(s), ticket(s).
Bonde: (Fr.) wrapper.
Bond paper: a thin crisp high quality paper with a hard surface; 1862-71: used for early US revenue stamps, proofs and essays.
Bond, Wm. & Co.: private die match proprietary stamps.
Bone: now Annaba, Algeria.
Bongonga: bogus, spoof stamps created for 1936 stamp exhibition.
Bonito: (Sp.) used to describe a stamp in nice condition.
Bon marché: (Fr.) cheap.
Bonny River: Royal Niger Company rubber stamp cancel, on stamps of 1892 Great Britain.
Book bid: bids entrusted by an absentee bidder to an auctioneer; bids to be executed on behalf of an absentee bidder during the course of the public auction.
Bookgirl, Republic of: product of Artistamp, private label manufacturer.
Booklet: stamp book that contains one or more panes of unused stamps.
Booklet leaf: term for a booklet pane, a page from a booklet containing stamps.
Booklet number singles: booklets with plate numbers on the stamp itself, 1997.
Booklet pane: uncut block of stamps especially printed and cut for use in booklets; 1895: first booklets in Luxembourg.
Boonie Islands: bogus, remote nonexistent place.
Bootleg mail: letter carried outside of the normal mail stream; term may have originated when travelers carried letters illegally in their riding boots; carried from overseas, often for missionaries, then franked and deposited in local mail, avoiding the high international rates in the pre-UPU period..
Bophuthatswana: South Africa Homeland State; 1977, Dec. 6: first stamps issued after given autonomy, 1994, Apr. 27: Bophuthatswana ceased to exist.
Bord, an: (Ger.) (on) board.
Bordbriefkasten: (Ger.) paquebot.
Bord: (Fr.) margin, selvage, or border around stamps.
Bord de Feuille, BdeF: (Fr.) sheet margin.
Borde: (Sp.) margin, selvage, or border around stamps.
Bordeaux: (Fr.) maroon (color).
Bordeaux issue: Third Republic of France; 1870: provisional government issue of provisional stamps used during Siege of Paris due to lack of supplies from Paris; local, liberation, 1944.
Bordein: Egypt, see: Interpostal seals, 1879-1884.
Border: the frame or edge of a stamp design.
Bordpost: (Ger.) ship mail.
Bordpoststempel: (Ger.) cancel on board ship, Zeppelin, etc., pacquebot cancel.
Bordsiegel: (Ger.) cachet on board (spacecraft).
Bordure: (Fr.) margin, boder, selvage, gutter.
Boreas, S.S.: Danube Steam Navigation Co. steamship; 1850s: for the lower Danube lines.
Borge: local, Spanish civil war, Nationalist forces, 1937.
Borisoglyebsk: local, Russian Zemstvo, 1872-82.
Borneo, North: Malaysia; 1883, June: first stamps issued, 1892: stamps cancelled with bars were remaindered in huge quantities, 1942, June: overprinted stamps issued as Japanese Occupation of British Borneo, 1947: B.M.A. overprint used for British Military Administration, 1963, Sept. 6: part of Federation of Malaysia, changed name to Sabah.
Borovichy: local, Russian Zemstvo, 1869-1912.
Borroso: (Sp.) blurred, roughly printed.
Börse: (Ger.) bourse; such as a stamp show, where stamps are bought, sold or exchanged.
Boscawen: New Hampshire, Postmaster's issue, 1846.
Bosnia and Herzegovina: Ottoman Empire provinces; 1850s: postal service operated using Turkish stamps, 1878: military posts operated in area, Austrian protection, 1879, Jan.: civilian postal service started, with stamps of Austria and Hungary, 1879, July 1: first stamps issued, 1908: Austria-Hungary annexed Bosnia and Herzegovina, 1910, Oct. 18: first stamps under regime of Austria-Hungary issued, 1914: Austrian Archduke Ferdinand assassinated, 1917: became part of Kingdom of Yugoslavia, 1918, Nov.: provincial stamps issued, 1941: stamps issued by occupying powers, Germany and Italy, 1992: stamps of Yugoslavia surcharged, 1992: Proclamation of Independence, 1993-post: Croat and Serb administration, 1993-95: "Republika Bosna I Hercegovina" inscription for Muslim government in Sarajevo, 1995: peace agreement divided nation between Croat-Muslims and the Serbs.
Bosnia and Herzegovina, forged issues: 1: 1900 Coat of Arms, Sc. 11-21. 2: 1900 Coat of Arms, Sc. 22-24. 3: 1906 Emperor Franz Josef, Sc. 45. 4: 1912 Jaice, Sc. 62. 5: 1912 Konjica, Sc. 63. 6: 1912 Vishegrad, Sc. 64. 7: 1913 girl, newspaper stamps, Sc. P1-P4.
Bosnia Erzegovina: (It.) Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Bosnie et Herzégovine: (Fr.) Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Bosnien und Herzegowina: (Ger.) Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Boston: Mass.: 1849-51: semi-official local carriers' stamps; see: Carriers' stamps.
Boston counterfeit: the US 2-cent stamp of the 1922 series, look for a large and out-of-proportion "S" in Washington, plus variations in the perforations.
Boston island: bogus label from American Journal of Philately.
Boten: 1: local stamps of Hamburg, term taken from inscription Hamburger Boten, 1861; 2: (Ger.) messenger (postman).
Botenbrief: (Ger.) private courier letter.
Botenmeister: (Ger.) messenger (postmen) supervisor.
Boten metzger brief: (Ger.) pre-philatelic letter.
Botenordnung: (Ger.) regulations for messengers (postmen).
Botschaft: (Ger.) message.
Botswana: formerly British Bechuanaland Protectorate; 1888: overprint on Cape of Good Hope stamps, followed by overprints on British stamps, 1966, Sept. 30-67: "Republic of Botswana" overprint on stamps of Bechuanaland Protectorate; see: Bechuanaland Protectorate.
Bottle Mail: first tested by Theophrastus, Greek philosopher, about 300 BC who launched bottles with messages and determined that the Mediterranean Seas’s water came from the Atlantic Ocean.
Bottom: lowest side of anything.
Bouah: Egypt: see: Interpostal seals, 1879-84.
Bou Armado: (Sp.) civil war naval marking for armed trawler.
Bouchir: (Fr.) Bushire.
Bought in: auction term for a lot where seller literally bought the lot back against the book and/or floor bidder; an unsold lot.
Bousfield & Poole: private die match proprietary stamps.
Boulak: see: Interpostal seals, 1879-84.
Boule de Moulins: sealed zinc balls to carry mail; 1870-71: French attempt to use the River Seine to carry mail in boules from Moulin to Paris when Paris was under siege.
Bourg d'Orsans: local provisional, France, 1944.
Bourgueil: local provisional, France, 1944.
Bourse: a market place, such as a stamp show, where stamps are bought, sold or exchanged.
Bourse aux Timbres: (Fr.) stamp market.
Boutell & Maynard: private die match proprietary stamps.
Bouton's Post, Franklin City Despatch Post: U. S. local post, New York, N.Y., 1847.
Bouton's Post, Manhattan Express: U. S. local post, New York, N.Y., 1847
Bouton's Post, City Dispatch Post: U. S. local post, New York, N.Y., 1848.
Bouvenkant: (Dut.) top.
Bowers & Dunham: private die match proprietary stamps.
Bowlsby coupon essay: stamp with a coupon attached that was to be detached by the postmaster when the stamp was sold; to prevent reuse of stamp; original patent caled for tearing away part of the stamps; used on a variation of the 1-cent 1861 Franklin stamp; invented by G. W. Bowlsby.
Boxborough-Oxford: local, U.S., bogus, Beagle Power local post.
Boxed marking: marking that is set within a frame, may be handstamp or printed marking in margin of sheet of postage stamps.
Boyaca: department of Colombia; 1750-post: Spanish handstamps in use, 1834: forwarding agents cachets known, 1847:US Mail Despatch Agency used stamps of USA with red grid cancel, 1899: first provincial stamps, 1902-04: stamps of Colombia.
Boyce's City Express Post: U. S. local post, New York, N.Y., 1852.
Boyd's City Express: U. S. local post, New York, N.Y., 1844-67.
Boyd's City Dispatch: U. S. local post, New York, N.Y. 1874-77, change in name.
Boyd's Dispatch: U. S. local post, New York, N.Y. 1878-82, change in name.
Boyd's City Post: U. S. local post, New York, N.Y. envelopes, 1864-78.
Boy Scout issue: Boy Scout Association national and international jamboree commemoration of event by host nation, also used to commemorate the boy scouts.
Bozze: (It.) proof.
Bozzetto: (It.) design, artwork printed portion of a stamp, as distinguished from the surrounding margin of blank paper.
B P: 1: booklet pane; 2: Bundespost (Germany Federal Post).
B P A: 1: British Philatelic Association; 2: Bahnpostamt (Ger.) railway post office.
B P C: Belgian military postmark, Bureau de Poste de Campagne.
B P C V.P.K.: Belgian military postmark, Bureau de Poste de Campagne, veld Post Kantoor.
"B" Perforator: purchased May 28, 1862, used for stamp sheets too narrow for the "A" perforator, used for small stamp sheets since the line of holes was only 12 inches long.
B P F: British Philatelic Federation, Great Britain.
B P O: British Post Office.
B press: three-color Giori intaglio press used by Bureau of Engraving and Printing.
Br, br'n: (Ger.) catalog abbreviation for brown (braun) overprint or surcharge.
BR: Brazil, country code as used by UPU.
Brac, Brac Franco: island in the Adriatic Sea; stamps of Jugoslavia overprint; 1943: stamps of Yugoslavia unauthorized overprint by Germany, 1944, May: charity stamps printed when occupied by Germany, never issued.
Bradbury, Wilkinson & Co. Ltd.: British stamp printing firm.
Bradway's Despatch: U.S. local post, Millville, N.J., between Philadelphia and Millville, 1857.
Brady & Co. : U.S. local post, New York, N.Y., 1857.
Brady & Co. Chicago Penny Post: U.S. local post, Chicago, Ill., about 1860.
Brainard & Co.: U.S. local post, New York, N.Y., 1844.
Brake Shoe: a variety found on the 11-cent Caboose stamp of the Transportation coil series; appears as a semi-circular line that follows the outside curve of the front wheel.
Branch: name given to a post office that is a subsidiary of the main post office.
Branch Post Office: local handstamp, New York, N.Y., 1847.
Branco: (Port.) brown (color).
Branded stamps: another term for perfins, stamps perforated with initials or designs.
Brandenburg: local, Germany, Stadbrief-Beforderiung Courier, 1896-1900.
Brasil: (Port., Sp.) Brazil.
Brasile: (It.) Brazil.
Brasilien: (Ger.) Brazil.
Bratislava: formerly Pressburg, Czechoslovakia.
Brattleboro: Vermont, US postmaster's provisional stamps, 1846.
Braun: (Ger.) brown, coffee or chocolate (color).
Braunschweig: (Ger.) Brunswick, German State, also known as Brunswick.
Brazil: South America; 1798, Jan. 20: Royal postal service started between Portugal and Brazil, 1822: Empire of Brazil declared independence, 1843, Aug. 1: first stamps, the "Bull's Eye" issue, 1851: British Royal Mail took over control, British and French markings used, 1860: stamps of France used with anchor cancel, 1866-74: stamps of Britain used at ports, 1890: issues of the Republic of Brazil.
Brazil: 1: local airmail, ETA, 1920s; 2: Colombian Airline Postal Service, SCADTA, 1921-23. 3: local airmail, Syndicato Condor, 1927; 4: local airmail, Varig, 1920s.
Brazil, forged issues: 1: 1894-97 Sugarloaf Mountain, Sc. 112. 2: 1889 postage due, Sc. J4.
Brazza: see: Brac.
Breakdown die proofs: see: Schernikow die proofs.
Breast cancer: US non-denominated semi-postal stamp, value 32, 33, 34¢, July 29, 1998.
Brechou, Brecqhou: island off coast of Sark, Great Britain local carriage label, 1969.
Bréfhiršing: (Ice.) general name for smallest Iceland post offices.
Breit: (Ger.) wide, large.
Breitemarke: (Ger.) oversized, wide stamp.
Breitenausdehnung: (Ger.) with wide (broad) margins.
Breitrandig: (Ger.) wide margins.
Breiz: bogus labels for French province.
Brzme: (Fr.) Bremen.
Bremen: German State; 1784: Thurn and Taxis had office in Bremen, 1810: Bremen annexed to French Empire, 1813: Bremen became a free city again, 1855, Apr. 10: first stamps, 1868, Jan. 1: stamps of the German Confederation, 1870: became part of the German Empire, 1872, Jan.: German stamps issued.
Bremen: locals Germany, 1: Briefbeforderung Hammonia, 1886-87; 2: Packetfahrt Bremen, 1900; 3; Privat-Briefbeforderungs-Anstalt, 1896-1900.
Brésil: (Fr.) Brazil.
Bresil Calais: (Fr.) border entry date stamp from Brazil to Calais, France.
Bresilien: (Ger.) Brazil.
Breslau: now known as Wroclaw, Poland.
Breslau: locals, Germany; 1: Breslauer Packetfahrt Gedellschaft, 1896-1906; 2: Breslauer Stadtpost Courier, 1896-1900; 3; Breslauer Trannsport-Bureau, 1890-94; 4: Briefbeforderung Hammonia, 1886-87; 5: Dientsmanns-Institut, 1867; 6: Hansa-Zeitungsspedition und Incasso, 1900; 7: Neue Breslauer Expres-Packet-Beforderung, 1886-87; 8: Privat-Stadtbrief-Beforderung Hansa, 1893-1900; 9: Stadtbriefbeforderung-Neue Stadtpost, 1896-1900.
Bretagne: bogus issue.
Brett: (Nor.) crease, fold.
Brev: (Dan., Swed.) cover.
Brevbudsauktion: (Dan.) mail bid sale.
Brevkort: (Dan., Nor., Swed.) postal card.
Bridge: the tiny piece of paper that holds stamp together in a perforated multiple before they are torn apart.
Bridgeville, Al. Paid 5: see: Confederate Postmasters’ Provisionals.
Bridgeville: US Alabama, Confederate postmaster's provisional, 1861.
Brief: (Dut., Ger.) letter, cover.
Briefbestellung: local, Duisberg, Germany, 1896-1900.
Briefbestellung Kraus: local, Dusseldorf, Germany, 1895-1900
Briefbewertung: (Ger.) cover pricing.
Briefbogen: (Ger.) letter sheet.
Briefdatum: (Ger.) date of letter.
Briefgebühr: (Ger.) letter postage.
Briefhülle: (Ger.) envelope.
Briefkaart: (Dut.) postcard.
Briefkarte: (Ger.) letter card.
Briefkasten: (Ger.) mail box.
Briefkuvert: (Ger.) envelope.
Briefmarke: (Ger.) postage stamp.
Briefmarken auf brifm.: (Ger.) stamp on stamps thematic
Briefmarkenauktion: (Ger.) stamp auction.
Briefmarkenausstellung: (Ger.) postage stamp exhibition.
Briefmarkenbörse: (Ger.) postage stamp bourse.
Briefmarkengeld: (Ger.) encased postage stamp used by Austria in July 1923.
Briefmarkenhändler: (Ger.) stamp dealer.
Briefmarkenkunde: (Ger.) knowledge of stamps.
Briefmarkenkünstler: (Ger.) designer or engraver of postage stamps.
Briefmarkenpaket: (Ger.) package of stamps.
Briefmarken prüfer: (Ger.) stamp expert.
Briefmarkensammler: (Ger.) stamp collector.
Briefmarkensammlung: (Ger.) collection lot; an auction lot comprising of a mounted or unmounted country, topical, etc. collection, which normally is viewed previous to bidding.
Briefomslag: (Dut.) envelope.
Briefpost: (Ger.) letter post.
Briefpreis: (Ger.) price of cover.
Briefrückseite: (Ger.) back of cover.
Briefsammlung: (Ger.) collection of covers.
Briefstück: (Ger.) cut square of cover or post card, on piece.
Brieftaubepost: (Ger.) pigeon mail.
Briefträger: (Ger.) letter carrier.
Briefumschlag: (Ger.) cover.
Briefstuck: (Ger.) piece.
Briefstuk: (Dut.) piece.
Briefumschlag: (Ger.) envelope or cover.
Briefvorderseite: (Ger.) cover front.
Brigata Garibaldi: local, Italian liberation, 1944.
Brigg's Despatch: U.S. local post, Philadelphia, Pa., 1847-48.
Brique: (Fr.) brick red (color).
Brillante: (Sp.) shiny, glossy, surfaced paper.
Brinkerhoff Company: Brinkerhoff Company: Sedalia, Mo., Clinton, Iowa manufacturers of stamp vending machines, 1906-12, distinct perforation.
Brisé: (Fr.) broken.
Brisure: (Fr.) break.
Britain: see: Great Britain.
Britannia type: name given to stamp design showing the full face of Britannia: used for early stamps of Barbados, Mauritius and Trinidad, 1851-83.
Britannien: (Ger.) Britain.
Britannique: (Fr.) British.
Britisch Guiana: (Ger.) British Guiana.
Britisch Honduras: (Ger.) British Honduras.
Britisch Ostafrika: (Ger.) British East Africa.
Britisch Kolumbien unde Vancouvers Insel: (Ger.) British Columbia and Vancouver Island.
Britische Marken im Ausland Verwendet: (Ger.) British stamps used abroad.
Britisch Salamon Inseln: (Ger.) British Solomon Islands.
Britisches Weltreich: (Ger.) British Empire.
British American Bank Note Company: stamp printing firm in Canada.
British Antarctic Territory: formerly part of Falkland Island Dependency; 1962: became separate colony, 1963, Feb.1: first stamps as part of British Commonwealth omnibus issues.
British Bechuanaland: see Bechuanaland, British.
British Central Africa (B.C.A.): former British territory in Africa; 1891-95: stamps of Rhodesia overprinted "B.C.A," 1895-1907: inscription of British Central Africa Protectorate, 1908: name changed and stamps used of Nyasaland Protectorate, which became independent as the Republic of Malawi..
British Central Africa Protectorate: see: British Central Africa.
British colonial (stamp): term used for issues of Great Britain, Dominions, Colonies, Protectorates and Mandated territories of Great Britain.
British Columbia: Pacific coast of Canada; 1860: first stamp as British crown colony, 1865, Nov.1: first separate stamps when united with Vancouver Island as British Columbia, 1866, Nov.19: some stamps surcharged as British Columbia, 1871, July 20: became a Canadian province, see: Canada.
British Columbia: local, Canada; Dietz and Nelson Express, 1862-71.
British Columbia and Vancouver Island: Canadian province; 1847: first post office at Victoria, 1860: external communications were via U.S. expresses, such as Wells Fargo, US stamps sold, 1865: superseded by separate issues, 1866; united as part of Canadian Confederation, 1871, July 20: became a Canadian province as part of British Columbia, see: Canada.
British Consular Mail: stamps issued 1884-87 for consular postal service; see: Madagascar, Great Britain Consulate.
British Durduras: bogus, British Colonial Royal Wedding frames from book Surreal Stamps and Unreal Stickers.
British East Africa: currently Kenya; 1890, May 23: "British East Africa Company" overprint on stamps of India, Zanzibar, 1890-94: stamps inscribed and handstamp of British East Africa Company, 1895: under direct control of British administration, 1895-97: overprint on stamps of India, 1896-1903: inscribed British East Africa Protectorate, 1895-97: British East Africa Protectorate on stamps of Zanzibar, 1903: area changed and stamps inscribed "East Africa and Uganda Protectorate," 1903: East Africa and Uganda stamps used, 1963, Dec. 12: named Kenya; see: Anna, Au Profit de la Croix Rouge.
British East Africa, forged issue: 1890-94 light and liberty, Sc. 29.
British Forces, Egypt: effective 1932-1941; 1932, Nov.1-Feb. 29, 1936: seals valid as stamps issued to British forces and their families with a special postage rate for mail to Great Britain, applied to the back of mail, 1936-Apr.1943: Army Post inscription used.
British Guiagu: bogus, British Colonial Royal Wedding frames from book Surreal Stamps and Unreal Stickers.
British Guiana: former colony in South America; 1850, July 1: first stamps as British crown colony, 1856: crowned circle "PAID" mark used, 1858-60: stamps of Britain used on mail to Britain, 1966, May 26: became an independent republic and renamed Guyana.
British Guiana 1¢ magenta: term used for the unique 1856 1-cent magenta stamp, also known as The Penny Magenta.
British Honduras: east coast of Central America; 1786: letters from Jamaica known, 1798: under British authority, 1800: "Belize" handstamp used on foreign mail, 1857: London branch Post office opened, 1858-60: stamps of Great Britain used, 1862: British colony administered from Jamaica, 1866, Jan.: first definitive issue, 1871: declared crown colony, 1884: became independent of Jamaica, 1866, Jan.: first stamps, 1939: Guatemala claimed area in its map issue (Sc.296), 1960: became a crown colony, 1973: changed name to Belize, 1984, Jan. 1: became self-governing.
British Honduras: local; Caye Service, 1895.
British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT): British-owned islands in the Indian Ocean; 1965, Nov. 8: established as a crown colony, 1968-pre: stamps of Mauritius or Seychelles valid, 1968, Jan. 17: stamps issued, 1968: stamps of Seychelles overprinted B.I.O.T, 1969: mails have been carried by m.v. Nordvaer, with a temporary post office, 1976: mail is entirely military, 1976: islands transferred to Seychelles and Seychelles stamps used, 1980: name changed to Zil Eloigne Sesel then to Zil Elevagne Sesel.
British Inland Mail: stamps issued at Antananarivo (Madagascar); 1895, Jan.-Sept.: French fleet blockade; mail carried by runner to Vatomandry.
British Levant: British Post Offices in the Turkish Empire; 1832: British embassy mail started, 1854, Nov.: Constantinople opened an Army post office, 1854: British stamps used, 1885, Apr. 1: first British stamps issued overprinted Levant, 1914, Sept. 30: post offices closed, 1916: Levant stamps for Salonica, 1918-20: British Army post office in Constantinople opened, 1921: stamp issued British occupation of part of the old Ottoman Empire, 1920-23: overprinted stamps used.
British Military Administration of Malaya: 1945, Oct. 19: first stamps issued, 1945-48: Straits Settlements stamps overprinted BMA Malaya used, 1948-post: states issued their own stamps, but BMA overprint was used to 1951.
British Military Administration of North Borneo: 1945, Dec. 17: first stamps of North Borneo overprinted B.M.A.
British Monmon Islands: bogus, British Colonial Royal Wedding frames from book Surreal Stamps and Unreal Stickers.
British Naiana: bogus, British Colonial Royal Wedding frames from book Surreal Stamps and Unreal Stickers.
British New Guinea: former name for Papua; 1883, Apr. 4: annexed by Queensland, 1888, Sep. 4: post offices opened at Port Moresby and Samarai, 1888: cancels were barred ovals with letters NG or BNG, along with a dated stamp, 1901, July 1-05: first stamps issued, 1902: transferred to Australia, 1906, Sep. 1: name changed to Territory of Papua, 1907: definitive issue, 1949: Papua and New Guinea, 1972: Papua New Guinea, 1975: independence.
British Occupation: 1918, Dec. - July 1920: overprint on stamps of Russia, "Batum" overprint, occupied by British Forces.
British Offices in Beirut: 1873-1914: stamps of Great Britain, British Levant, 1906, July 2: provisional issued.
British Offices in China; various cities; 1844: consular treaty port post offices opened, 1862-post: all mail canceled B62 in Hong Kong, 1862-1917: first stamps, Hong Kong, 1917: first overprinted stamps of Hong Kong, "China," 1922, Nov. 30: all offices were closed except for Wei-hai-wei, 1930, Oct. 1: stamps withdrawn, handed back to China. British Offices in Crete: British zone of joint administration includes France, Italy, Russia; 1898-1900: stamps issued until establishment of autonomous government.
British Offices in Eastern Arabia: 1963, Mar.30: first British agency post office opened, 1963, Mar.30-March 29, 1964: used stamps of British postal administration in Eastern Arabia, 1967, Jan.1: local service starts.
British Offices in Japan: 1859-Dec.1879: Yokohama, used stamps of Hong Kong from 1864, 1860-Dec.1879: Nagasaki, used stamps of Hong Kong from 1866, 1869-Dec.: (Hyogo), used stamps of Hong Kong from 1876.
British Offices in Morocco: 1857-86: used stamps of Great Britain, postmarked at Gibraltar, 1886-1907: placed under control of Gibraltar, 1898-1906: used stamps of Gibraltar, and Great Britain, 1907-56: used stamps of Great Britain, overprinted, currency surcharge in Spanish, plus separate issues used in Spanish Zone, French Zone and Tangier, 1917-Jan. 8, 1938: used stamps of Great Britain surcharged in French, 1927-pre: Tangier used stamps of Great Britain without overprints.
British Offices in the Turkish Empire: 1885-pre: British stamps used, 1885: British stamps overprinted "Levant" or surcharged in Turkish currency, 1914, Oct. 1: British post offices closed, 1919, Mar.: British post offices reopened, 1923, Sep. 27: British post offices closed. see: British Levant.
British Philatelic Federation: formed 1976, maintains Roll of Distinguished Philatelists, RDP.
British postal administration in Eastern Arabia: stamps of Great Britain surcharged in Indian currency, 1948, Apr.1-Jan. 6, 1961: Dubai, 1948, Apr.1-April 29, 1966: Muscat, 1950-57: Qatar, 1960, Dec.-March 29, 1964: Abu Dhabi, 1951, 1953: Kuwait, Bahrain. British postal strike: started Jan. 20, 1971, ended March 8, 1971: involved 220,000 postal employees: it was legal for private firms to deliver mail and many made their own stamp labels for the occasion.
British Post Office Act of 1657: listed international towns of commercial importance.
British Protectorate Oil Rivers: Niger Coast Protectorate; 1892-93: overprint on stamps of Great Britain.
British Solomon Islands: British protectorate in the Pacific; 1893: southern islands, British territory, 1896: New South Wales first stamps, postmarked Sydney, 1907: first stamps as British Protectorate, postage to Australia and then stamps of New South Wales necessary, 1942: Japanese invasion, post offices closed, 1943, July: post office opened on Guadalcanal, 1946: Guadalcanal closed, replaced by Honiara, 1975: name changed from British Solomon Islands to Solomon Islands.
British Somaliland: 1903: overprint on stamps of India; see: Somaliland Protectorate.
British South Africa: Rhodesia; 1841-53: Livingston sent mail to Great Britain, via casual caravans or ships, 1875-76: mail send from Transvaal, 1888-92: stamps of British Bechuanaland used, 1888, Aug.: mail sent from Tati in Bechuanaland Protectorate, 1890: horse post established, 1898: railway from Beira to Umtali, 1889-1923: administered by the British South Africa Company, 1892, Jan. 2: first stamps inscribed British South Africa Company, 1909, Apr. 15: first stamps with name Rhodesia, 1923-53: Rhodesia. 1924: remainders of issues 1892-1910 back-dated sold to stamp dealers, 1953, Sep.3: Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland, see: Rhodesia, Rhodesia and Nyasaland.
British Vice Consulate Antananarivo: 1884-86: Madagascar; see: British Consular Mail.
British Virgin Islands: islands in the West Indies; 1666-pre: under Dutch control, then to Britain, 1858: British stamps used, 1866: British Virgin Islands stamps issued, 1890-1956: Leeward Island stamps used with those of BVI, 1917-pre: western portion under Danish rule, then U.S. rule, 1956: became separate crown colony, 1967: became an Associated States,, under Britain, 1968, Jan. 2: first "British" stamp issued to avoid confusion with US Virgin Islands.
British Zone: plus American and Russian occupying powers; 1946-48: one issue, overprinted with pattern of posthorns, for occupation of Germany, 1948-49: "Deutsche Post" inscription used.
Brno: formerly known as Brunn, Czechoslovakia.
Broadway Post Office: U.S. local post, New York, NY, 1848.
Broken circle: printing variety in which a circle that appears on the stamp is defective.
Broken (fractured) gum: final appearance of gum caused by application while paper passes through the gum-fracturing machine, which is used to counteract paper curl.
Broken hat: variety seen on the 2c 1893 Columbian issue found in the hat of the knight standing to the left of Columbus. The lines in the hat brim are broken.
Broken Hill: now known as Kabwe, Zambia.
Broken letters: malformed letters in the stamp inscription caused by damage or deterioration in the printing plate or cylinder.
Broken set: an incomplete set of stamps that doesn't contain all the values.
Broken type: letter in an overprint or surcharge where the face is damaged so that there is no complete impression.
Bromberg: local, Germany, Stadtpost Hansa, 1896-1900; now known as Bydgoszcz, Poland.
Bromide: photo of the artwork reduced to the actual size of the stamp printed on bromide paper.
Bronce: (Sp.) bronze (color).
Bronnytzy: local, Russian Zemstvo, 1868-1905.
Brons: (Swed.) bronze (color).
Bronsefarget: (Nor.) bronze (color).
Bronson & Forbes City Express Post: U.S. local post, Chicago, Ill. 1855.
Bronze: (Eng., Fr.) bronze (color).
Bronzen: (Ger.) bronze (color).
Bronzo: (It.) bronze (color).
Brooklyn City Express Post: U.S. local post, Brooklyn, N.Y., 1855-64.
Brotkartenpapier: (Ger.) bread ration ticket paper, used for printing 1919 stamps of Lithuania.
Brown: coffee or chocolate (color).
Brown (E) & Co. : U.S. local post, Cincinnati, Ohio, 1852-65.
Brown & Durling: private die match proprietary stamps.
Brown & McGill's U.S.P.O. Despatch: 1858, Louisville, Ky; see: Carriers' Stamps.
Browne's Easton Despatch Post: U.S. local post, Easton, Pa., 1876 established for philatelic purposes by stamp dealer William P. Browne.
Brown's City Post: U.S. local post, New York, N.Y., 1876.
Bruch (Spur): (Ger.) crease.
Bruchdruck: (Ger.) surface printing, typography.
Brücke: 1: (Ger.) gutter between two stamps; 2: (Ger.) bridges, as a theme or topic.
Bruges: also known as Brugge, Belgium.
Brugt: (Dan.) used.
Bruin: (Dut.) brown (color).
Brukt: (Nor.) used.
Brun: (Dan., Fr., Nor., Swed.) brown, coffee or chocolate (color).
Brunei: Sultanate of North Borneo under British protection; 1888: under British protection, 1895: local stamps issued for mail to and from Labuan, 1906, Oct.11: first stamps were overprints on stamps of Labuan, 1907-: Brunei stamps issued, 1942-44: stamps overprinted in Japanese characters during occupation, 1945: British occupation, stamps of North Borneo and Sarawak overprinted B.M.A., 1947: Brunei stamps reappeared, 1971: became self-government, 1984: became fully independent.
Brunei Darussalam: Brunei.
Brun gris: (Fr.) grey-brown (color).
Brunn: now known as Brno, Czechoslovakia.
Bruno: (It., Port., Sp.) brown, coffee or chocolate (color).
Brun rouille: (Fr.) rust (color).
Brunswick: German State, also known as Braunschweig; 1852, Jan. 1: first stamps, 1868, Jan. 1: stamps of the North German Confederation, 1870: became part of the German Empire, 1872, Jan.: German stamps issued.
- local, Germany, Bruef-Beforderung Hannomia, 1886-1900.
Brunswick printing: AMG (AM Post) stamps of Germany printed by Westermann of Braunschweig, Germany.
Brunswick Star: name given to a duplex cancel used at Edinburgh, Scotland in 1863-73, name taken from the breast-star in the Hanoverian Order of Brunswick.
Brussels, Bruxelles: Belgium precancel; local Courier Provisoire, 1914.
Bruttokatalog: (Ger.) priced catalog, subject to discount.
Bruxelles: surcharge precancel, 1929; also known as Brussels, Belgium.
BS: 1: auction abbreviation for boy/girl scout theme; 2: Bahamas, country code as used by UPU.
BSMT: USPS abbreviation for basement.
Bstmp: abbreviation for backstamp, see: Backstamp.
B. T.: Board of Trade, perfins, or punch perforated on stamps of Great Britain, with a crown.
BT: Bhutan, country code as used by UPU.
Btlln: (Sp.) abbreviation for military force, battalion.
Btonn: paper watermarked with straight parallel lines.
Buccleuch find: rare British 1840 stamps found in 1946 in a desk belonging to the Fifth Duke of Buccleuch.
Bucharest: also known as Bucuresti, Romania.
Buchdruck: (Ger.) typography, letterpress.
Buchstabstempel: (Ger.) letter cancel.
Buck, L. W. & Co.: private die match proprietary stamps.
Bucles: (Sp.) curls, used to describe the 1855 watermark instead of lazos.
Bucureste: also known as Bucharest, Romania.
Bud: (Dan., Nor.) bid (at an auction).
Budliste: (Dan.) bid sheet.
Budweis: now known as Ceske Budejovice, Czechoslovakia.
Buegig: (Ger.) creased.
Buenos Aires: province in Argentina; 1771: earliest known postmarks, 1814: independent posts established, 1858, Apr. 29-64: issued own stamps as part of Argentine Confederation, 1860-73: stamps of Great Britain used, 1860-78: stamps of France used, 1862, Oct. 4: last issue of own stamps, became a province of Argentina.
Buff: brownish-yellow (color).
Buffalo Balloon: see: Balloon Postage, Buffalo.
Buffer: an alkaline reserve added to paper.
Bug: (Ger.) crease.
Buggy whip: plate crack that appears on the 4.9c Transportation coil series stamp.
Bugulma: local, Russian Zemstvo, 1882-1918.
Bugurusian: local, Russian Zemstvo, 1879-1916.
Buildings Study Group: study of the postal history and stamps of the emergency German 1948 building sets, Germany Philatelic Society, USA.
Buiten Bezit: Dutch Indies overprint for Java and Madura, 1908: outer possessions, to check the use of mail.
Bukovina: local overprint, bogus, Ukrainain, 1993.
Bulgaria: former Turkish republic in the Balkans; 1850s: used stamps of Turkey, 1878: "Greater Bulgaria" established, 1879, Mar. 1: first stamps issued, 1885: absorbed Eastern Rumelia under rule of the Sultan of Turkey, 1908: independence formalized, 1917: Macedonia issue, but not used until1921, 1918-39: King Boris III, royal issues, 1925: Sunday delivery stamps issued, 1946, Sept. 15: stamps of People's Republic issued; see: AEB, AEBA.
Bulgaria, forged issues: 1: 1901 War of Independence, Sc. 53-54. 2: 1902, Battle of Shipka Pass, Sc. 70-72.
Bulgarie: (Bul.) Bulgaria.
Bulgarien: (Ger.) Bulgaria.
Bulgarska carska pochta: bogus, Bulgarian Royal Posts, 1964.
Bulk mail: mail that is rated for postage partly by weight and partly by the number of pieces in the mailing; USPS term.
Bulk e-mail: direct mail advertising to large numbers of addresses via e-mail.
Bulk rate: low denomination stamps for use bulk mail.
Bulk rate USA: eagle/shield design, U. S. non-denominated postage stamp, value 10¢, 1991.
Bulk rate USA: auto design, U. S. non-denominated stamp, value 10¢, issued March 10, 1995.
Bulle: (Fr.) manila (color).
Bullock Mail: bullock carts carried mail between Allahabad and Delhi, India, between 1846 and 1904.
Bull's eye: Aug. 1, 1843: first issue of Brazil consisting of an intricate circular design.
Bull's eye cancellation: postmark in which the city, state and dates have been placed directly on the center of a stamp or block of stamps; also known as socked on the nose (SOTN).
Bumbunga Province: bogus Australian secessionist state three hectares north of Adelaide.
Bund: (Ger.) federation, federal.
Bundesmarke: (Ger.) German Federal Republic postage stamp.
Bundespost: (Ger.) German Post Office.
Bundesprüfer: (Ger.) a competent authority recognized as being qualified to certify the identification, authenticity or other status of philatelic materials; now just called Prüfer.
Bundesdruckerei: (Ger.) Federal Printing Works for stamps of Germany.
Bundesrepublik Deutschland: (Ger.) Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany).
Bund Deutscher Philatelisten (BDPh): (Ger.) Association of German Philatelists.
Bundi: India Feudatory State; 1894, May-1902: first stamps, 1902-15: stamps of India used, 1915-48: used own stamps, 1939: separate stamps discontinued, 1948-50: used stamps of Rajasthan, 1950, Apr. 1: replaced by stamps of the Republic of India.
Bundi service: India, Bundi officials, 1919.
Buntfrankatur: (Ger.) one set of stamps with at least three stamps of different colors.
Bunol: local, Spanish civil war, 1937.
Buque: (Sp.) ship, used in ship markings, thematic.
Buque Minador: (Sp.) civil war naval marking for minelayer.
Buque Prision: (Sp.) prison ship, may be seen in an address.
Bur.: abbreviation for bureau.
Burdo: (Sp.) coarse.
Bureau: (Fr.) office(s), postoffice(s).
Bureau a l'étranger: (Fr.) post office abroad.
Bureau aux Armées: (Fr.) field post office.
Bureau de Départ: (Fr.) post office of origin.
Bureau de Destination: (Fr.) post office of delivery.
Bureau de Poste: (Fr.) post office.
Bureau de Poste Central: (Fr.) main or head post office.
Bureau d'Ambulants: (Fr.) mobile post office.
Bureau issues: stamps produced by theUS Bureau of Engraving and Printing.
Bureau Issues Association (BIA): now called the United States Stamp Society.
Bureau Militaire: (Fr.) army post office.
Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP): official US printer of currency; 1862, Aug. 29: started by overprinting the Treasury Seal and Treasury Notes; 1894, July 1: started producing US postage stamps.
Bureau precancels: stamps that are precanceled at the B.E.P. in Washington, D.C.
Bureau postal maritime: (Fr.) packet-letter post office.
Bureau print: precancellation applied by the BEP during the production of the stamp for use by post offices that required a large number of precancel stamps.
Burelado: (Sp.) see: Burelage.
Burelage, Burelé, Burlage: (Fr., Sp.) a fine overall network of dots or lines printed on the surface of stamps in addition to the stamps design; was usually done to discourage counterfeiting. Burg: (Ger.) castle, as a theme or topic.
Burgdorf: local airmail, Switzerland, 1913.
Burelering: (Nor.) see: Burelage.
Burhans, D. & Co.: private die match proprietary stamps.
Buriatia: bogus Russian Federation Republic; local overprint and stamps, 1996?
Burilagem: (Port.) see: Burelage.
Burin: tool used by stamp engravers to engrave in steel.
Burjasot: local, Spanish civil war, Republican forces, 1937.
Burkino Faso: formerly Upper Volta, West Africa; 1919: French territory made a separate colony, 1920-31: first stamps were Upper Senegal and Niger overprinted "Haute-Volta," 1928: issued own stamps, 1933: divided among French Sudan, Ivory Coast, and Niger Territory, 1958, Dec.11: named Upper Volta, 1959: stamps issued as Republic of Haute-Volta, 1984, May 23: first air mail stamps with new name,1984, Aug. 4: name changed to Burkino Faso, "country of incorruptible men," 1984, Nov. 21: first regular issue stamps issued as Burkino Faso.
Burma: southeast Asia, part of British Indian Empire; 1826-Apr.1, 1937: part of British India, 1854, Oct.: stamps of India used for first time, 1887: river steamer temporary post offices established, 1937, April 1: stamps of India (1926-36) overprinted "Burma" when it became part of the British Commonwealth, 1938: Burma stamps, British Administration, 1943-45: Japanese occupation overprints and issues, 1942: Burmese emblem, the peacock, used as overprint during Japanese occupation, 1941-45: Stamps of India used by Imperial troops, 1947, Oct.: interim government overprint, 1948, Jan. 4: became Union of Burma as an independent nation, 1989: name changed to Myanmar, 1990: first stamps issued as Myanmar.
Burma, Japanese Occupation, forged issues: 1: 1943 farmer plowing, Sc. 2N30-2N37. 2: 1943 water carrier, Sc. 2N41-2N43. 3: 1943 Elephant with log, Sc. 2N44-2N48. 4: 1943 Mandalay Watchtower, Sc. 2N49-2N50.
Burnishing: removal of portion of an engraved design from a die, plate, or transfer roll; usually done to remove imperfections or re-work a design.
Burr: uneven raised edge of surplus metal from engraver's tool, prints as a flaw.
Burriana: local, Spanish civil war, Republican forces, 1937.
Burritt, Elihu: (1810-1879) proponent of Ocean Penny Postage as a drastic reduction in an established set of postal rates in use by many different nations.
Burrus, Maurice: stamp collector who is depicted on a set of Liechtenstein 1968 stamps.
Bursztynowy: (Pol.) amber (color).
Burundi: UN Trusteeship territory (Ruanda-Urundi) administered by Belgium; 1899-1914: as Urundi, part of German East Africa, 1914-62: administered by Belgium under a United Nations mandate, 1953: overprint "Royaume du Burundi" on Ruanda-Urundi (1959-61), 1962, July 1: became independent nation, 1962, Sep. 27: Burundi stamps issued, 1966, Nov. 28: declared a republic, 1967: "Republique du Burundi" overprinted on Royaume du Burundi issues (Sc. 111, 113, 116, 118-25, 141-52, 154-56), 1967: first stamp with inscription of Republique du Burundi.
Burutu: city in Southern Nigeria; 1896-1899: Royal Niger Company handstamp used on stamps of Great Britain.
Bury's City Post: U.S. local post, New York, N.Y., 1857.
Busch, Charles: private die match proprietary stamps.
Bushehr: formerly Bushire, Iran.
Bushire: now known as Bushehr, Iran.
Bush's Brooklyn City Express: U.S. local post, Brooklyn, N.Y., 1848 (?).
Business Reply Mail (BRM): specially printed postcards, envelopes and labels that may be mailed without postage prepayment; postage and fees are collected when the mail is delivered back to the original sender; usually a license and deposit are required.
Bus parcel stamps: private labels issued by bus firms to prepay freight charges on parcels carried on their routes.
Bussahir: India Feudatory State, Punjab; 1895, June 20: first local stamps, 1901, Mar.31: cancelled obsolete stamps (Rampur 19 MA 1900) sold to stamp trade, 1901, Mar.31: stamps of British India used. 1950, Apr. 1: replaced by stamps of the Republic of India.
Busspaket: (Fin.) Finland parcel post.
Busta: (It.) cover, an envelope or a postally used envelope or one with a postal cancellation.
Busta primo giorno di emissione: (It.) first day of emission.
Bustees: India States term for hamlets.
Butler & Carpenter: engraver and printer of US revenue stamps.
Butterfield Overland Mail: service began Sept. 15, 1858, between St. Louis and San Francisco, taken over by Wells Fargo.
Butterflies of Victoria: butterfly-like cancel; 1850-52: used for the first issues of Victoria.
Buu-chinh, Buu-Chinn: Vietnam.
Buy bid: practice whereby a bidder instructs an auctioneer or auction agent to purchase a lot regardless of the ultimate hammer or final price; rarely accepted by auction houses since two "buy bids" on same lot would create chaos.
Buyer's premium: auction term for percentage premium added to the final price of a lot, and retained by the auctioneer as part of the commission for selling the lot; also known as buyer's fee or the tip.
Buy prices: price a buyer is willing to pay for certain stamps or other philatelic items.
Büyük Britanya: (Turk.) Great Britain.
Buzon: (Sp.) posting or mail box.
Buzones columnas: (Sp.) pillar, or mailing boxes in streets, as opposed to those in post offices.
Buzones tranvias: (Sp.) posting boxes on Madrid, Barcelona and Bilbao tramcars.
Buzones vapores: (Sp.) posting boxes on ships in regular service between the Spanish mainland and the Balearic Islands of Ceuta, Melilla, and the Canary Islands.
Buzulul: local, Russian Zemstvo, 1876-1915.
B. V. I.: British Virgin Islands.
BW: 1: abbreviation for "bankwissel" bank draft revenue overprint of Orange Free State; 2: Botswana, country code as used by UPU.
B. W. & Co.: Bradbury, Wilkinson, stamp printers, Great Britain.
B. W. A.: British West Africa.
B W I: British West Indies.
B W I S C: British West Indies Study Circle, Great Britain.
By: (Nor.) to bid (at an auction).
BY: Belarus, country code as used by UPU.
Byam, Carlton & Co.: private die match proprietary stamps.
Byde: (Dan.) to bid.
Bydgoszcz: formerly Bromberg, Poland.
Byezhetsk: local, Russian Zemstvo, 1872-96.
Bypass mail: mail that does not require postal preparation before outgoing distribution.
By Post letters: mail picked up by post riders on the London-Edinburgh post route in the 1630s; see:Allen, Ralph.
By Post stamps: local stamps issued by Danish and Norwegian towns in the 19th century.
Byrd: Richard E. Byrd Antarctic Exploration, 1933US stamp commemorates his flights over South Polar regions.
Bytown: now known as Ottawa, Canada.
Bz: (Ger.) catalogue abbreviation for bronze overprint or surcharge.
BZ: Belize, country code as used by UPU.