Identification
How to Identify a Stamp: A Step-by-Step Guide
To identify a stamp, work through a few features in turn: the country of origin, the denomination (face value), the design and what it commemorates, the date or issue, and the technical details, watermark, perforation and printing. Together these point to the exact stamp and its catalogue number. Some stamps, including those of Great Britain, follow special rules, which the guides below explain.
At a glance
Why identify a stamp
Identifying a stamp is the first step to understanding it, whether you want to know what it is, place it in a collection, or have it valued.
Two stamps can look almost identical yet be quite different, and worth very different amounts, so careful identification matters. This pillar guide sets out the method; the linked guides go deeper on each step.
The steps to identifying a stamp
Find the country of origin.
Most stamps carry a country name. If none is shown, the design itself is the clue, and for Great Britain there is a special rule, explained in our guide to identifying British stamps.
Read the denomination.
The face value, shown as a figure and a currency or symbol, helps narrow down the issue.
Look at the design and inscription.
What the stamp shows, and any wording, points to the issue and what it commemorates.
Establish the date or issue.
The design, style and any date place the stamp in a period, and often a specific issue.
Check the technical details.
The watermark, the perforation gauge and the printing method distinguish stamps that otherwise look alike.
Confirm with a catalogue.
A catalogue such as Stanley Gibbons matches your stamp to a catalogue number, the key to its identity and value. See how Stanley Gibbons catalogue value works.
The tools that help
A few simple tools make identification far easier: a magnifier or loupe to see fine detail, a perforation gauge to measure perforations, watermark detection (held to light or with watermark fluid), and a catalogue for reference. None is expensive, and together they answer most questions.
When stamps are hard to tell apart
Small differences, big effect
The same design, a different stamp
Many stamps share a design across different printings, and the differences that matter, watermark, perforation, shade or paper, are small. This is where the technical steps earn their place, and where an expert eye helps.
If you are unsure, or think a stamp may be valuable, it is worth having it checked. We are glad to help; send clear photographs, front and back.
Go deeper
Explore the identification guides
Frequently asked questions
Work through its features in turn: country, denomination, design and date, then the watermark, perforation and printing, and confirm with a catalogue. The linked guides explain each step.
Most stamps carry a country name. If none is shown, the design is the clue, and Great Britain follows a special rule, explained in our guide to identifying British stamps.
A magnifier, a perforation gauge, a way to detect watermarks, and a catalogue. None is expensive, and together they answer most questions.
Because they may differ in watermark, perforation, shade or printing, which can make them different stamps entirely. The technical steps reveal these differences.
Identify it carefully, then assess its scarcity, condition and demand. If you think a stamp may be valuable, have it checked. See how to spot a valuable stamp.
Founder and stamp dealerLast updated June 2026