Underprint
{{Short description|Forgery prevention technique}}
File:Venezuela 1952 1b Security Detail.jpg
An underprint is anything printed underneath the main design of a stamp, banknote or similar item. Underprinting is used as a security measure to prevent forgery, or the cleaning of a postmark from a used stamp.Mackay, James. Stamp Collecting: Philatelic Terms Illustrated. 4th edition. London: Stanley Gibbons, 2003, p. 161. {{ISBN|0852595573}} The most common form of underprinting is burelage which takes the form of a faint pattern of lines or dots. Underprinting may also take the form of single or repeating words, for instance the word CUSTOMS at one time appeared underprinted on British revenue stamps.Barefoot, John., ed. Great Britain Revenues. 4th edition. York: J. Barefoot Ltd., 2002, pp. 39-41. {{ISBN|0906845629}}
Printing on the back
The term has also been used in philately to refer to advertising or other wording printed on the back of postage stamps.[http://www.underprints.com/Philately/ProtectiveOverprintsAndUnderprints/ProtectiveOverprintsAndUnderprints.htm Protective Overprints and Underprints.] Andy Donaldson, 2000-2013. Retrieved 27 June 2013. [https://web.archive.org/web/20110717162655/http://www.underprints.com/Philately/ProtectiveOverprintsAndUnderprints/ProtectiveOverprintsAndUnderprints.htm Archived here] However, this is thought to be an incorrectPatrick, Douglas & Mary. The Hodder Stamp Dictionary. London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1973, p. 254. {{ISBN|0340171839}} use of the term, with the word backprint being seen as more correct.Sutton, R.J. & K.W. Anthony. The Stamp Collector's Encyclopaedia. 6th edition. London: Stanley Paul, 1966, p. 318.
Gallery
File:Monaco circa 1892 50c telephone stamp.jpg|This telephone stamp of Monaco includes the underprinted repeating words POSTESETTTELEGRAPHSTELEPHONES.
File:Turkey 1912 Sul4724.jpg|A yellow repeating burelage underprint may be seen on this 1912 revenue stamp of Turkey.
File:British Adhesive Duty Stamps.jpg|British embossed revenue stamps underprinted CUSTOMS
See also
{{Portal|Money}}
References
{{commons category|Security underprints on stamps}}
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Category:Philatelic terminology
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