L

L: Local. Scott catalog number prefix to identify stamps other than standard postage.
L: Literature
L, LT: Left (side)
LA BELLE FRANCE: Cinderella issues from France used to promote tourism.
LABEL: Any stamp-like adhesive that is not a postage or revenue stamp.
LABEL ADDRESS: Address on a label that is affixed to a cover.
LABEL CACHET: Design on a label that is affixed to a cover.
L A C: Liga Antituberculosos Colombiana, Colombian Anti-Tuberculosis League.
LADY MCLEOD: First British colonial issue, April 1847, depicting a steam ship on a local stamp of Trinidad.
LAID PAPER: A paper showing light and dark lines when held to the light or put in watermark fluid.
LARGE DIE PROOF: Produced to test the die prior to making the plate, usually on India paper about 2 x 3 inches.
LAST DAY CANCELLATION: The last day of use of a postmark or the last day cancel of a post office which is being closed.
LATE FEE STAMP: Stamp indicating payment of a special fee for forwarding a mail piece after the regular mail has been closed.
LB: Carriers' Semi-official. Scott catalog number prefix to identify stamps other than standard postage.
LC: Large Crown (British watermark)
LE: Line Engraved (Victorian-era postage stamps, Great Britain)
LEADER STRIP: The unprinted initial portion of a coil strip.
LETTERA AEREA (It.): Official U.P.U. name for airletter sheet. Lightweight paper with gummed flaps, usually with a stamp printed on them and carried by air. AEROGRAMME (Eng.)
LETTERA FOTO (It.): Special letter form used by British forces during WWII which were then microfilmed. AIRGRAPH (Eng.)
LETTER CARD: Postal stationery consisting of cards folded over and sealed on the outer edges by perforated strips.
LETTERPRESS: Another name for typography or surface printing. When a stamp is printed by letterpress, it implies that the work is done from line or halftone plates by ordinary typesetting methods of machinery and printing.
LETTER SHEET: Postal stationery with a preprinted stamp or postage amount which is then folded and sealed to resemble a standard envelope.
LETTRE, POSTE AÉRIENNE (Fr.): Official U.P.U. name for airletter sheet. Lightweight paper
with gummed flaps, usually with a stamp printed on them and carried by air. AEROGRAMME (Eng.)
LEVANT: Area bordering on the eastern shores of the Mediterranean Sea.
L H: Auction term for Lightly Hinged, to denote slight disturbance of gum on back of stamp.
LIGNIN: Portion of plant cell wall used in paper production that reverts to its natural brown color upon exposure to light.
LINE BLOCK: A block of stamps with either a horizontal or vertical printed line running between the rows of stamps. This line forms the guides for color registry, perforating or cutting of the full press run sheets.
LINE GAP: A colored line between a pair of coil stamps caused by a gap in the printing plate joint.
LINE PAIR: A pair of stamps with a vertical printed line running between two stamps.
LINE PERFORATION: Perforation of a sheet stamp one line at a time in each direction.
LIP: Light Impression of Plate No. (on U.S.A. Plate No. Blocks)
LITERACY FUND STAMPS: Stamps issued to raise funds to combat illiteracy such as those issued in Haiti and Mexico.
LITHOGRAPHY (LITHO): A surface printing method where the image is photographically printed on a zinc or aluminum plate.
LKU: Latest Known Use
L L: Lower Left position for plate number blocks.
LN: Local Occupation. Scott catalog number prefix to identify stamps other than standard postage.
LO: Carriers' Official. Scott catalog number prefix to identify stamps other than standard postage.
LOCAL CARRIAGE LABEL: Local labels used by British offshore islands.
LOCAL POST: Service performed by a non-official body and used to carry mail within a certain area.
LOCAL PRECANCEL: Stamp overprinted locally with name of city and state.
LOCAL LETTER: Prior to 1863, local letters are those that were mailed and addressed locally, delivered by carrier service.
LOCALS: Stamps issued by governments or private posts for use in restricted areas.
LOKOJA: Used on stamps of Great Britain from 1895 to 1899 by the Royal Niger Company in Southern Nigeria.
LOOSE LETTER: Mail arriving in port without any cancel or mark of origin.
LOST STAMPS: Stamps which may have once existed, but are not now known.
LOT: Auction term for an item offered for sale with a number assigned by the auction firm.
LOVE STAMPS: A special issue U.S. stamp used primarily for greetings.
LOX: U.S. Typeset Official Seals. Scott catalog number prefix to identify stamps other than standard postage.
LOZENGE PERFORATION: Diamond-shaped perforation as used for the Bulgarian postage due stamp.
LOZENGES: Diamond shaped imprints; may be used in border designs of aerograms.
L P: Line pair
L R: Lower Right position for plate number blocks.
LS: Letter Sheet (without contents)
LTA: Lighter than air (postage stamps and/or postal history)
LU: Local Envelopes. Scott catalog number prefix to identify stamps other than standard postage.
LUFTPOSTBRIEF (Ger.): Official U.P.U. name for airletter sheet. Lightweight paper with gummed flaps, usually with a stamp printed on them and carried by air. AEROGRAMME (Eng.)
LUMINESCENCE: A coating applied to stamps that emits a glow when viewed with an ultraviolet lamp.