Methods of Stamp Printing

 
 
The following are the major printing types found on stamps:

1.       Intaglio ( 1. line-engraving 2.photogravure )
The most common printing process used for British and Commonwealth stamps issued before 1970 is known as intaglio.

Famous examples of line-engraved stamps include Britain’s first-ever postage stamp, the Penny Black

All design elements on engraved stamps are made up of lines.

The Queen Victoria stamps, which were issued in the United Kingdom from 1840 to 1867, were also printed using intaglio.

 

2.       Gravure ( screen intaglio, photogravure, rotogravure, heliogravure )
The photogravure process was first used for stamp production by German printer F A
Bruckmann of Munich during 1914 on an issue for Bavaria that to this day is regarded as an
excellent use of the method.

 
3.       Planography ( 1. lithography  2. offset-lithography   3.photo-lithography )
 
4.       Letterpress ( typography/surface-printed )

Typography encompasses all printing techniques in which the printing elements are raised from the printing plate. Ink is applied evenly to these printing elements, which are then pressed under high pressure onto the paper.

Letterpress first used in Britain with the 1855 Queen Victoria 4d carmine issue

 

The following are additional forms of printing :

5.       Thermography

The U.S. Autopost experiment created stamps printed on heat-sensitive, or thermographic, paper.

6.       Microprinting
This is a term to describe tiny lettering and numerals, usually incorporated within another design to serve as a security device. What distinguishes microprinting is the fact that one generally needs to use magnification to read it.

This 1954 issue from Greece (Scott 571) is one of the earliest to incorporate microprinting in its design.

7.       Stencil ( mechanical, mimeograph, silk screen, serigraphy, screen printing )

8.       Reflection ( photocopy )
This is the type of printing technology used by most photocopying machines, utilizing toner. 

U.S. Postal Buddy postal cards were created in this manner.

9.       Ink jet

Most Frama stamps, such as this one from Finland, were printed on some form of security paper by an inkjet process. The spray pattern is visible in the numerals.