Identification
How to Identify the Country a Stamp Is From
Most stamps name their country somewhere in the design, so reading the inscription is the first step. Some use a country's name in its own language or script, which can be unfamiliar, and a few use older or historical names. Great Britain is the single exception that names no country at all, showing the monarch's head instead. Where the name is unclear, the design, the currency and the script give further clues.
At a glance
Start with the name
On the great majority of stamps, the country is printed somewhere on the design, and reading it answers the question at once. The complication is only that it may not be in English.
A stamp may name its country in its own language, so it helps to recognise a few common forms. Our guide to identifying British stamps covers the one country that breaks the rule entirely.
Names that are not what they seem
Some countries name themselves in ways an English speaker may not recognise. A few of the most common:
- Helvetia
- Switzerland
- Magyar, or Magyar Posta
- Hungary
- Suomi
- Finland
- Nippon
- Japan
- Norge
- Norway
- Sverige
- Sweden
- Danmark
- Denmark
- España
- Spain
- Deutschland, or Deutsche
- Germany
- Österreich
- Austria
- Nederland
- the Netherlands
- Hellas
- Greece
Older stamps may also use historical names of countries and territories that have since changed, which is part of what makes worldwide collecting so interesting.
When there is no clear name
Where a stamp names no country you recognise, other clues help. The design itself, a head of state, an emblem or a landmark, often points to the country. The currency in the denomination is a strong clue, as is the script or alphabet. A British stamp, showing a monarch's head and no country name, is the clearest case of all, explained in our guide to why British stamps have no country name. With these clues in hand, a catalogue will confirm the country and the stamp.
Why it matters
The first step in identifying any stamp
Identifying the country is the first step in identifying any stamp, since catalogues are arranged by country and a stamp's number and value are read within its own national sequence. Our guide to identifying a stamp sets out the full method, from country to catalogue number.
Frequently asked questions
Read the country name on the stamp. If it is in another language or script, recognise the form, and if there is no clear name, use the design, currency and script as clues, then confirm with a catalogue.
Only Great Britain's. British stamps show the reigning monarch's head instead of a country name.
Switzerland. It is the Latin name the country uses on its stamps.
Because countries often name themselves in their own language, such as Suomi for Finland or Nippon for Japan, and older stamps may use historical names that have since changed.
Read the name, mind the language
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Founder and stamp dealerLast updated June 2026