Catalogue Numbers and Abbreviations
Catalogue numbers and abbreviations are from SCOTT STANDARD POSTAGE STAMP CATALOGUE 2006 and monthly supplements, some items have additional catalogue numbers, descriptions and prices from German MICHEL catalogues as well as some other specialized catalogues such as Sanabria (Airmail), Leitao 1970 (LEI) and Meyer 1980 (MEY) for Brazil, Mena (MEN) 1997 for Costa Rica, Veloz (VEL) 1980 for Dominican Republic, Gruson & Jickling (G&J) 1999 for Guatemala, Maxwell (MAX) 1988 for Nicaragua, Kneitchel (KNT) 1947 for Paraguay.
ADDITIONAL ABBREVIATIONS are BK/4 = Block of four, BL = Block = German for Souvenir Sheet (from Michel catalogue), CVP = Computer Vended Postage (Vending Machine Labels), DM = Deutsche Mark (German currency, in Michel catalogue), EU = Euro (European currency, in Michel catalogue), FD = First Day, FDC = First Day Cover, FSM = Fluorescent Security Markings (for modern stamps of El Salvador and Honduras), FTNT = footnote, Horiz. = horizontal, Invt. = Inverted, KL = Kleinbogen = German for Miniature Sheet or Sheetlet (Michel catalogue), LL = Lower Left, LR = Lower Right, MIHON or MUESTRA (Japanese or Spanish for Specimen), OVPT = Overprint, P + I = Perforated (Perf) and Imperforate (Imperf), Pos. = position (in sheet, going horizontally starting from first stamp in top left corner), PS = Postal Stationery (stamped envelopes, postal cards, domesograms and aerograms), PSE = Postal Seals, R = Revenue (Fiscals), RA = Registration Labels, TEL = Telephone Cards, UL = Upper Left, UR = Upper Right, VAR. = Varieties, Vert. = Vertical, w/ = with, w/out = without, $ = United States Dollars, # = number, as in plate number (plate #) or sheet number (sheet #), which is a single stamp with attached margin (selvedge) showing printing plate number or printing serial sheet number. See SCOTT CATALOGUE for much more information and abbreviation symbols.
ERRORS AND VARIETIES range from gutters and other uncommon or unlisted formats, flyspeck freaks and oddities to constant varieties (usually, but not always, one per sheet of stamps) and imperforates (where the normal stamp is perforated), scarce errors and essays. Serial sheet numbers (sheet #) and some relevant corners, or plate numbers (plate #) are listed when available; some are common, others can be scarce for issues where the total number of sheets printed is 1000 or less. The paper shade differences of the modern issues of El Salvador and Honduras are slight and are distinguished as follows: EL SALVADOR: cream paper = white gum, low fluorescence, white paper = bluish gum, high fluorescence; HONDURAS: Cream paper = white gum, high fluorescence, white paper = bluish gum, low fluorescence.
