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Fake
Genuine stamp that has been altered in some way in order to deceive collectors. It may be repaired, reperfed, or regummed to resemble a more valuable variety.

First Day cover
Envelope or postcard bearing a stamp or stamps cancelled on the date of the stamp’s release, with or without a commemorative cachet (design stamped onto the cover to commemorate the issuing of a new stamp).

First Day cover from Canada

* © Canada Post. 1998.
  Reproduced with permission.

Flaw
Minor variation in a stamp design that is usually seen only on a limited number of stamps in the printing run.

Forgery
Deliberate and fraudulent imitation of a stamp. Forgeries are intended to deceive stamp dealers and collectors.

Freak
Abnormal variety of stamps occurring because of paper fold, over-inking, perforation shift, and so on.

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