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What are Postage Stamps Printed on?
The overwhelming majority of postage stamps are printed on paper which differs enormously in type and quality. Classical stamps were, to a great extent, printed on hand-made paper which was of the best quality. It was strong and did not ‘yellow’ but it was not always possible to manufacture paper of the same thickness, so classical stamps can be found on papers of varying textures – from very thin to very thick. Depending on the method of production, wove paper or laid paper was obtained. Wove paper was of a plain, even texture; laid paper was watermarked by close, parallel lines, crossed at right angles by widely spaced lines. Hand-made paper was an excellent raw material, produced mostly from rags, but it was expensive. A cheaper source had to be found.
According to the printing technique employed, paper with a higher or lower finish was used. Paper with a high surface finish suited surface printing and line engraving, whereas a coarser surface was better suited to off-set printing. Usually white paper was used for the production of stamps but the white colour is not always permanent. If the paper was exposed for some time to sunlight, the paper becomes yellow. There could also be different tinges depending on the quality of the water used in the paper mill. In the mountain regions, paper produced in winter with the help of snow water had a slightly bluish tinge. In spring, as the snow melted and absorbed particles of clay, a brownish shade. Prior to World War I, the French ‘Sower’ stamps were printed on white paper. Printing continued during the war, but on grayish granite paper of poor quality and produced the so-called grande consummation.
Coloured paper was sometimes used for a specific reason. As far back as 1851, the stamps of Baden were printed with each value on paper of a different colour. Sometimes there was a desperate shortage of paper but it was still essential to print stamps as quickly as possible. In that situation, use was made of what supplies were available. Stamps were printed on sugar bags in British Guiana in 1862 as there was a shortage of stamps and no other material available. In 1918, the State of Latvia printed postage stamps on the reverse side of maps left behind by the German General Staff in Riga. Russia used unfinished bank-notes, cigarette paper and ration coupons to maintain a supply of postage stamps. All these types of paper are known under the common name of makeshift paper.
In recent years, some countries tried to print stamps on material other than paper. The Soviet Union and Hungary issued stamps printed on aluminium foil, Poland issued a miniature sheet printed on silk, Tonga printed stamps on gold foil and there have been unsuccessful attempts to print stamps on plastic.
There are many different types of paper surface finishes. Quite common is the coated paper with a chalky, glazed or enameled surface which is most suitable for lithowork. It also works as a safeguard against attempt to remove the hand stamps with chemicals. If chemicals are used, not only the postmark disappears – but also the print upon the postage stamp. Nations throughout the world have shown genius in devising materials to continue stamp production in times of paper shortage.
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