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Stamps Trivia

Stamps Trivia Quizzes

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21 Stamps quizzes and 230 Stamps trivia questions.
1.
How Have You Been Philately
  How Have You Been Philately?   best quiz  
Photo Quiz
 10 Qns
People Who Appeared on Stamps
Philately is the formal name for stamp collecting. Various famous people have appeared on stamps of all kinds around the world, some of which are collectors' items. Here are ten of them.
Easier, 10 Qns, Kankurette, May 31 24
Easier
Kankurette gold member
May 31 24
285 plays
2.
  The Joy of Stamps Collection    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Collection of postage stamps is one of the favorite hobbies in the world. Stamps can depict the history, famous people, famous sites and many others of a country.
Tough, 10 Qns, sw11, Oct 14 23
Tough
sw11 gold member
Oct 14 23
150 plays
3.
  That stamp is from WHERE?   top quiz  
Multiple Choice
 15 Qns
Stamp collectors often have to identify countries by the name printed on a postage stamp - which is not always the name as it is commonly known in English. Are you up to the challenge? (Some stamps are old, and country names change...)
Average, 15 Qns, Rimrunner, Mar 13 14
Average
Rimrunner
1532 plays
4.
  Stamp on an Anniversary   top quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
The UK's Royal Mail issues quite a few commemorative sets of stamps each year, many of which celebrate anniversaries related to notable people and events. Here's a few questions about ten released in the 2010s.
Easier, 10 Qns, Fifiona81, Sep 15 19
Easier
Fifiona81 editor
Sep 15 19
325 plays
5.
  Help! Can You Identify These Stamps?   popular trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
I just bought my ten year-old nephew his first stamp collecting kit. He was very excited, but when attempting to find the right page in his album to place the stamps that came with it, we both ran into problems! Can you help us out?
Easier, 10 Qns, daver852, Mar 20 15
Easier
daver852 gold member
694 plays
6.
  Stamp Identification: Country Names   great trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Postage stamps usually include the country's own name for itself. Sometimes, alternative names or abbreviated forms are used. This quiz will test your philatelic knowledge of country names.
Average, 10 Qns, JCSon, Feb 09 14
Average
JCSon gold member
2281 plays
7.
  Basic Terminology for Philatelists   popular trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Knowledge of the philatelic terms in this quiz are indispensible to the stamp collector. Philatelists with some experience shouldn't have a problem on this quiz.
Average, 10 Qns, zombipi, Jan 12 16
Average
zombipi
392 plays
8.
  Philately Is Fun   popular trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
How is a stamp made? When did the first U.S. stamp come out? How is the picture on a U.S. stamp chosen? These and many more questions can be answered if you take this quiz.
Average, 10 Qns, pennie1478, Aug 04 23
Average
pennie1478 gold member
Aug 04 23
2233 plays
9.
  Stamp Collecting Down-Under Style   great trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 25 Qns
A general mish-mash of Australian and New Zealand stuff, with a few 'technical' questions thrown in ...
Tough, 25 Qns, ozzz2002, Jan 18 07
Tough
ozzz2002 gold member
916 plays
10.
  United States Postage Stamps   popular trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
This is a quiz about postage stamps of the United States. If you are a stamp collector, you should find it very easy!
Average, 10 Qns, daver852, Feb 08 15
Average
daver852 gold member
351 plays
trivia question Quick Question
What nickname did collectors have for the Presidential Issue series?

From Quiz "US Stamps - The Presidential Issue Series"




11.
  170 Years of British Postage Stamps   popular trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Over the years I've put together an extensive collection of British postage stamps. This quiz relates mainly to stamps issued prior to 1900, but with the inclusion of a few more recent issues.
Average, 10 Qns, moonraker2, Jan 15 24
Average
moonraker2 gold member
Jan 15 24
542 plays
12.
  Postage Stamp Collecting   popular trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
For the avid stamp collector. How much do you know? The Uniform Penny Post originated in England on January 10, 1840 and the first postage stamp was produced in May, 1840.
Tough, 10 Qns, JCSon, Feb 13 18
Tough
JCSon gold member
Feb 13 18
1807 plays
13.
  Country Inscriptions    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Part of the fun of philately is learning facts about faraway places. Take country names in their native tongues for instance.
Average, 10 Qns, StetsonHat, Mar 18 11
Average
StetsonHat
671 plays
14.
  Teasing trivia for stamp collectors and others   popular trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Experienced stamp collectors should have fun with these, and those with a good general knowledge should be able to handle some of them too...
Tough, 10 Qns, EnglishJedi, Jul 28 12
Tough
EnglishJedi gold member
405 plays
15.
  Australian Stamp Collecting   popular trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
This should be testing for Australians - and even harder for non-Australians. (Sorry)
Tough, 10 Qns, ozzz2002, Aug 08 08
Tough
ozzz2002 gold member
735 plays
16.
  US Stamps - The Presidential Issue Series    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Stamp collecting was a popular hobby for baby boomers in the 1960's. A popular and relatively inexpensive series to collect was the Presidential Series first issued in 1938. These questions should bring back lots of memories for collectors of all ages.
Average, 10 Qns, jmoskow, Jul 03 24
Average
jmoskow gold member
Jul 03 24
578 plays
17.
  The Penny Black    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Certainly one of the most famous of all postage stamps, the Penny Black has a lot of history behind it. Here is your chance to show what you know about this "piece of paper ... with a glutinous wash."
Average, 10 Qns, collect, Jan 21 21
Average
collect
Jan 21 21
728 plays
18.
  Philately Gets You Nowhere    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
A quiz on UK stamps and general postal history.
Tough, 10 Qns, romeomikegolf, Nov 02 22
Tough
romeomikegolf gold member
Nov 02 22
821 plays
19.
  U.S. Commemoratives   popular trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
A quiz for fellow philatelists on U.S. Commemoratives.
Tough, 10 Qns, number_1dad, Oct 31 08
Tough
number_1dad
662 plays
20.
  Stamps of India - 2003 Part I    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
This is the first in a series of questions on the stamps issued by Indian Postal Service during the calendar year 2003. Note that there are no technical questions.
Tough, 10 Qns, ace_sodium, Jun 06 05
Tough
ace_sodium
439 plays
21.
  U.S stamps    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Stamp collecting for the best.
Tough, 10 Qns, Dr_Evil_, Aug 14 17
Tough
Dr_Evil_
773 plays

Stamps Trivia Questions

1. The United States issued its first postage stamps in 1847. What two famous Americans appeared on these stamps?

From Quiz
United States Postage Stamps

Answer: Benjamin Franklin and George Washington

The United States issued its first national postage stamps on July 1, 1847. The five cent orange stamp carried the portrait of Benjamin Franklin, and the ten cent black stamp pictured George Washington. These stamps are not especially rare, but because of very high demand among stamp collectors, they are still quite valuable. Here's a hint for non-collectors: if you find one of these stamps, or any other old and valuable stamp in your attic, or tucked away in an old book, leave it attached to its envelope. Old stamps that are "on cover," or attached to their original envelopes, are usually worth more than stamps that have been soaked off and placed in albums. Another thing to be aware of is that the Post Office reissued these stamps in 1947; the colors on the reprinted stamps are not the same as the originals. The reprinted stamps have very little value.

2. Everyone knows that the 1840 GB 'Penny Black' was the world's first postage stamp, but what color was the two-penny stamp that was issued at the same time?

From Quiz Teasing trivia for stamp collectors and others

Answer: Blue

The 2d blue is the same design as the Penny Black, but has a catalogue value more than double its more famous partner for both used and mint copies. When the Penny Black was replaced in 1841 by the perforated 1d red-brown, the 2d blue was also re-issued with perfs.

3. The Penny Black was the world's first adhesive postage stamp, in which year was it first issued?

From Quiz 170 Years of British Postage Stamps

Answer: 1840

The Penny Black was first issued in Great Britain in May 1840, just two days before the Two Penny Blue. The 1d black was intended for use on letters weighing up to half an ounce, whilst the 2d blue covered weights up to one ounce. With the exception of their colours and values, the design of both stamps was identical. Contrary to popular belief, the Penny Black is not a particularly rare stamp, as 68,808,000 copies were printed in total, of which significant numbers remain in private collections today.

4. An old postcard turns up and the stamp says, "Eire", with the outline of an island country in the centre, under an arch. The value is indicated as '2', and the dominant colour is green. From what country is this stamp?

From Quiz That stamp is from WHERE?

Answer: Ireland

'Eire' is the Gaelic (Old Irish) form of Ireland. ('Erin' is normally used poetically, and the principal difference is grammatical.) This particular stamp is the old 2d. (two penny) Map of Ireland design, first issued in December 1922, and the design was one of a set of six which remained essentially unchanged until 1968!

5. The Thomas Jefferson stamp was used for first class standard letters when first issued in 1938. What denomination was the Thomas Jefferson stamp?

From Quiz US Stamps - The Presidential Issue Series

Answer: 3 cents

A first class, one ounce letter cost 3 cents to mail from 1932-1958. Relatively low inflation, high usage, and virtually no competition kept the price stable for over 25 years. Since the 1990's, first class postage rates have continually increased as the US Postal Service struggles to maintain service with decreased usage and inflationary expenses. The internet, cell phones, and other technologies have decreased demand for so-called "snail- mail." The denominations of the series generally corresponded to the sequence in which the president served. Thomas Jefferson was the third president of the United States.

6. In what year did The United States issue The Columbian Exposition Commemoratives?

From Quiz U.S. Commemoratives

Answer: 1893

The Columbian Exposition were issued in 1893 to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the discovery of the new world by Christopher Columbus. This was the first set of commemoratives issued by the United States, it was a sixteen stamp set all commemorating various events of Christopher Columbus's career.

7. Which member of the Universal Postal Union (UPU) is the only country not required to name itself on its postage stamps?

From Quiz Stamp Identification: Country Names

Answer: United Kingdom

The United Kingdom was the first country to issue postage stamps. Since no other country issued stamps at the time, there was no need for the UK to name itself. Today, all other members of the UPU are required to include a country name written in Latin letters. The UK continues to issue stamps without a country name (in agreement with the UPU).

8. Who is pictured on one of the two first U.S. stamps?

From Quiz U.S stamps

Answer: Ben Franklin

Ben Franklin was appointed by the Continental Congress as the first Postmaster General of the Confederation on July 26, 1775. The other stamp issued on the same day showed George Washington.

9. Of what etymological origin is the word philately?

From Quiz Philately Is Fun

Answer: Greek and French

The word philately is Greek in origin. Philately means the study of postage stamps. A philatelist is someone who studies stamps and a philatelomaniac is a person who takes stamp collecting to a mania. Before stamps, receivers of mail would pay the price of the mail given to them. Most people wouldn't accept mail because of the high prices.

10. Where was the Penny Black first issued?

From Quiz The Penny Black

Answer: Great Britain

The very first country to issue adhesive postage stamps was Great Britain.

11. Towards the end of 2003, the postal department issued a stamp to commemorate the 50th anniversary of a popular cultural academy. Which academy?

From Quiz Stamps of India - 2003 Part I

Answer: Sangeet Natak Akademi

The Sangeet Natak Akademi was founded on 28th January, 1953 with the objective of "providing an institutionalized system of support and patronage to the performing arts". 3 stamps of Rs. 5 denomination each were issued on 22nd December, 2003. 0.8 Million stamps were released of each one. The printer was Calcutta Security Printers Ltd. The printing process was Photo offset and paper used for the same was Matt Chromo.

12. From 1902 until 1949 only two basic colours were used to print the lowest value stamps in the UK and many other countries. What were they?

From Quiz Philately Gets You Nowhere

Answer: Green and red

From 1902 until 1949 all UK 1/2d stamps were green and all 1d stamps were red. There were varying shades of each but the basic colours stayed the same. Many other countries followed the same convention.

13. What name is given to the hobby of stamp-collecting?

From Quiz Australian Stamp Collecting

Answer: Philately

Vexillology is the study of flags, Phillumeny is matchbox-cover collecting and Philology is the study of languages.

14. China Post started printing stamps with Chinese Zodiac signs since 1980. There are 12 Zodiac signs in the Chinese calendar. Name the first Zodiac sign printed by China Post in 1980.

From Quiz The Joy of Stamps Collection

Answer: Monkey

1980 the Year of the Monkey stamp, the first printed Zodiac stamp by China Post is the most sought-after by stamp collectors. The next series of the Monkey were in 1992 and 2016. The one produced in 2016 is a monkey with 2 children which was the year China ended the one-child policy. China implemented one-child nationwide in 1980.

15. What is the term that describes the collection and study of postage stamps, covers, and related post material?

From Quiz Postage Stamp Collecting

Answer: Philately

16. A set of stamps released in 2010 featuring famous faces such as Robert Boyle, Sir Isaac Newton and Benjamin Franklin celebrated the 350th anniversary of the founding of which British institution dedicated to the sciences?

From Quiz Stamp on an Anniversary

Answer: The Royal Society

The Royal Society is the oldest national scientific society in the world, having been founded in 1660 by a group of prominent scientists and academics to provide a regular forum for them to meet, exchange ideas and run experiments. It formally became 'The Royal Society' two years later when the newly-restored King Charles II granted it a royal charter. The physicist and chemist Robert Boyle was a founding member and Sir Isaac Newton was the society's president from 1703 to 1727. Benjamin Franklin was elected as a Fellow in 1756, which was a rare achievement as few Americans were granted this status during that era. The other prominent scientists and members of the Royal Society featured in the set of 10 stamps were Edward Jenner (inventor of the smallpox vaccine), Charles Babbage (computing pioneer), the naturalist Alfred Russel Wallace, Joseph Lister (who developed the use of antiseptics in surgery), Ernest Rutherford (the nuclear physicist), the Nobel prize-winning chemist Dorothy Hodgkin and Nicholas Shackleton (a geologist).

17. Most of the stamps I have come across have small regularly spaced teeth along 2, 3, or 4 of the edges. What is the standard accepted philately term for these teeth?

From Quiz Basic Terminology for Philatelists

Answer: Perforations

Perforation teeth are the result of small holes punched between stamps for easy seperation without a cutting device. The first stamps to be perforated were issued in 1854 by the General Post Office of Great Britain, using a perforating device created by Henry Archer. Perforations can come in a variety of styles and frequency in the number of perforation teeth per inch or centimeter. Small guages are available to measure them.

18. In 1861 all previously issued postage stamps were declared to be invalid for postage. What caused this?

From Quiz United States Postage Stamps

Answer: The Civil War

The United States did not want supplies of its postage stamps to fall into the hands of the Confederacy. Of course, the old stamps had to be used until new stamps were printed, despite the decree. The Post Office issued a new series of stamps in August, 1861 and declared all previously issued stamps to be invalid for postage. Customers were given a limited time to exchange their old stamps for new ones. What is pretty remarkable is that this is the last time that U.S. postage stamps have been demonetized. Any stamp issued by the United States government from August, 1861 on is still valid for postage today.

19. Many early USA stamps featured a portrait of George Washington. Who else was depicted on the very first USA general issue in 1847?

From Quiz Teasing trivia for stamp collectors and others

Answer: Benjamin Franklin

The 5c red issued in 1847 and designated as catalogue #1 depicted a bust of Benjamin Franklin. Washington was on the other stamp issued simultaneously, the 10c black. The 1851 issue again included stamps depicting Franklin and Washington, with Thomas Jefferson appearing on the 5c value. Andrew Jackson first appeared on an 1861 issue, and both Jackson and Abraham Lincoln featured throughout the 1860s. Numerous Presidents were featured in the years that followed, but America's second President, John Adams, did not appear on a stamp until the 1938 'Presidential' set.

20. What is the usual inscription of stamps issued by the Netherlands?

From Quiz Country Inscriptions

Answer: Nederland

Holland is part of the Netherlands and the name is used by many people to denote the whole country. Netherlands in the Dutch language is Nederland.

21. What term was used to describe the design of the first cancellation post mark, as used for obliterating the earliest British postage stamps?

From Quiz 170 Years of British Postage Stamps

Answer: Maltese Cross

The hand-cut Maltese Cross design was in use from 1840 until 1844. They varied considerably in their detail, and some of the more distinctive ones can be linked to their towns of origin. Initially a red ink was used, but this was soon replaced by black. Maltese Cross obliterations do exist in other colours but are extremely rare and keenly sought after.

22. What color was the 1938 Thomas Jefferson stamp?

From Quiz US Stamps - The Presidential Issue Series

Answer: Purple

Each stamp was a distinctively different color. Jefferson was on the 3 cent stamp. The one-cent George Washington stamp was green.

23. On the 1898 Trans-Mississippi Exposition Commemoratives, what is depicted on the $1 value issue?

From Quiz U.S. Commemoratives

Answer: Western Cattle in Storm

The $1 Trans- Mississippi (Cattle in Storm) stamp was designed by Raymond Ostrander Smith. Each of the eight stamps in this set were to depict the life west of the Mississippi River. The $1 Cattle in Storm stamp picture was of a painting by artist J. A. Machete , the painting was titled "The Vanguard". Post Office Department Designer (at the time) Raymond Ostrander Smith is credited for the design of this stamp set and the "Cattle in Storm" stamp has won contests for being "America's Most Beautiful Stamp".

24. How did East Germany name itself on its postage stamps?

From Quiz Stamp Identification: Country Names

Answer: Deutsche Demokratische Republik

Deutsche Demokratische Republik was the name used on postage stamps by the German Democratic Republic of East Germany. It was also standard (after the mid '60s) to use the abbreviated DDR. The first East German issues were inscribed with Deutsche Post. Deutsche Bundespost was the name used by the German Federal Republic of West Germany. Deutschland was printed on stamps of Germany under Allied Occupation, and Deutsche Reichspost was used for German Imperial Post.

25. What year did the US Pictorial Issues come out?

From Quiz U.S stamps

Answer: 1869

In 1869 Pictorial Stamps were the first U.S stamps to feature something other than the bust or head of a famous American leader.

26. Who came up with the word philately?

From Quiz Philately Is Fun

Answer: Georges Herpin

Georges Herpin was a French stamp collector who wrote "The Collection of Postage Stamps" in November of 1864. He was the first President of the French Philatelic Society.

27. When was the Penny Black stamp first valid for postage?

From Quiz The Penny Black

Answer: May 6, 1840

The Penny Black was first issued on May 1, 1840 and became legal for use on May 6. Her sister stamp, the Twopenny Blue, was issued on May 8.

28. A stamp was issued to commemorate the birth centenary of Swami Swaroopanandji on 20th December, 2003. He was a scholar cum freedom fighter. What was his real name?

From Quiz Stamps of India - 2003 Part I

Answer: Vishnu Godbole

Vishnu Godbole was born on 15th December, 1903 and breathed his last on 15th August, 1974. The stamp (Rs. 5) was printed using Photo offset method on imported unwatermarked stamp paper by Eagle Press Private Ltd. 0.4 Million stamps were released into the market.

29. What name is given to the pre printed and stamped envelopes and letter sheets issued at the same time as the 1d black and 2d blue stamps?

From Quiz Philately Gets You Nowhere

Answer: Mulready & Mulreadys & Mulready's

They were named after the designer William Mulready.

30. What year was the first A.A.T. issue?

From Quiz Stamp Collecting Down-Under Style

Answer: 1957

March 27, 1957. The design showed a map of the Territory, and 3 scientists.

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