Editing Definitive stamp (section)

{{Short description|Postage stamp that is part of the regular issue of a country's stamps}}
[[Image:Stamp UK 1937 2.5p.jpg|right|220px|thumb|This UK definitive stamp showing King George VI of the United Kingdom was first issued in 1937.]]
A '''definitive stamp''' is a [[postage stamp]] that is part of the regular issue of a country's stamps, available for sale by the post office for an extended period of time<ref>[[Oxford English Dictionary]] 1993 Additions, entry for "definitive."</ref><ref>{{cite book
  | last = Carlton
  | first = R. Scott
  | title = The International Encyclopaedic Dictionary of Philately
  | publisher = [[Krause Publications]]
  | location = Iola, Wisconsin
  | year = 1997
  | pages = 64
  | isbn = 0-87341-448-9 }}</ref> and designed to serve the everyday postal needs of the country. The term is used in contrast to a "[[provisional stamp]]", one that is issued for a temporary period until regular stamps are available, or a "[[commemorative stamp]]", a stamp "issued to honor a person or mark a special event" available only for a limited time.<ref>{{cite book
  | last = Carlton
  | first = R. Scott
  | title = The International Encyclopaedic Dictionary of Philately
  | publisher = [[Krause Publications]]
  | location = Iola, Wisconsin
  | year = 1997
  | pages = 55–56
  | isbn = 0-87341-448-9 }}</ref>  Commonly, a definitive issue or series includes stamps in a range of [[Denomination (postage stamp)|denomination]]s sufficient to cover current postal rates. An "issue" generally means a set that is put on sale all at the same time, while a "series" is spread out over several years, but the terms are not precise. Additional stamps in a series may be produced as needed by changes in postal rates; nevertheless some values may be permanently available, regardless of prevailing rates; examples include 1c or 1p and $1 or £1.