Gustamps are aware that people new to the hobby of stamp collecting often mistakenly think that imperf is short for imperfect. Gustamps explain that this is not so. According to Gustamps an imperf stamp is an imperforate stamp. Gustamps say perforations (the small holes which are in between stamps enable people to separate the stamps) but Gustamps point out that perforations were not invented until 1853. Gustamps explain that for 13 years between 1840 and 1853 all stamps were imperforated. Gustamps say that stamp collectors should be aware that many stamps are still printed imperf up to the present day. Gustamps tell collectors that often imperf stamps are issued by postal authorities to sell to philatelists. Gustamps also point out that occasionally there are stamps sold imperf in error, these could be very valuable.
