VF = "Very Fine" well centered for issue with nice perfs, and imperfs with 4 margins
F = "Fine" an attractive stamp that may be off-centre, perfs may be slightly irregular or imperfs may have less than 4 margins
MUH = MNH - never hinged with original gum without any gum disturbance
MLH = "Mint Lightly Hinged" with original gum that shows slight marks from previous hinging or a small unobtrusive hinge remnant
M = "Mint" with original gum, has significant marks from 1 or more hinges, or hinge remains present
UN = "Unused" without gum
Superb VFU = Exceptional used condition for the issue
VFU = "Very Fine Used" with either a clear neat cancel or a neat corner cds, well centered for issue with nice perfs, and 4 margins on imperfs
FU = "Fine Used" still an attractive stamp with a fairly neat average cancel for issue, may be somewhat off centered, perfs may be slightly irregular or imperfs may have less than 4 margins.
GU = "Good Used" an average used stamp that may have a heavy or smudged cancel or minor blemishes from postal use
CTO = "Cancelled To Order"
note: VFU or FU stamps may in fact be CTO.
blk - block
bklt - booklet
b/s, bkstp - backstamp(ed)
BOB - Back of Book issues
ca - circa
cds - circular date stamp
cnr - corner
comp - complete
Defs - definitives
d/s - datestamp
FD - first day
FDC - first day cover
FFC - first flight cover
FV - face value
F/C - fiscally cancelled
h/s - handstamp(ed)
H & G - Higgins & Gage
impt - imprint
LR - lower right
marg - margin(al)
Mi - Michel catalog
misc - miscellaneous
M/S - Miniature or Souvenir Sheet
m/s - manuscript
opt - overprint
o/w - otherwise
o/c - off-centre
Pics - Pictorials
pmk - postmark
PPC - picture postcard
pr(s) - pair, pairs
PSE - pre-stamped envelope
PTPO - Printed To Private Order
reg - registered
s/b - stockbook
Sc - Scott catalog
SG - Stanley Gibbons catalog
sl - slight
s/l - straight line
SS - Seven Seas catalog
SOTN - "Socked on the Nose" cancel
STC - stated to catalogue / contain(by vendor & unchecked)
TL - top left
TR - top right
(var) - variety
w/c - well centered
w/o - without
wmk - watermark
Yv - Yvert catalog
(P) - see photograph
(5) - no of items