Know Your Miniature Sheets

There are various ways in which Postage Stamps are packaged, and one arrangement is through the use of a miniature sheet. A Miniature Sheet or the Souvenir Sheet is composed of a number of stamps still attached on the original sheet of paper on which they are printed. Postage stamps may be considered as regular issues, or can be considered special issues when printed to commemorate an important event or celebration. The number of stamps in every sheet may vary - a miniature sheet may contain just one postage stamp, or it can contain around 25 postage stamps.

 
Postage stamps included in the sheet may be imperforate or perforated. The margins of the sheet may contain additional texts (see sheet above). The margins of the sheet may also contain other information, or may include logos and other design details that add to the stamp’s aesthetic value. Also, the postage stamps included in the sheet, as well as the whole sheet, may be used for mailing. Stamp collectors should remember though that these stamps or sheets are often marketed above face value, thus collectors should prepare to pay a premium for these items. Some items are collected and stored in mint condition. The first souvenir sheet printed was issued in Luxembourg in 1923. This sheet, that includes the 10-franc stamp, was issued to commemorate the birthday of Princess Elisabeth. In the United States, the first commemorative sheet was released in 1926, and another series was made available to the public and collectors during the 1930s. Even the United Nations released its own series of commemorative sheets.