Cut-out (philately)

[3] In 1905, Herbert L'Estrange Ewen published a booklet "The Unadhesive Postage Stamps of the UK" meaning postal stationery cut-outs.

[7][8] It is distinguished from the entire (the complete postal stationery item) or the more common practice of earlier eras of cutting to shape by removing all of the paper apart from the imprinted stamp.

To illustrate how far things have shifted in emphasis from the collection of cut squares, the most recent United Postal Stationery Society publication on US 20th and 21st century stamped envelopes does not even mention cut squares,[11] whereas its predecessor edition, just seven years earlier, devoted a section to their pricing.

This is true, for example, for the octagon-shaped 4 Annas stamp of India issued in 1854, which is most commonly found cut to shape on envelopes or pieces.

[14] The "world's most famous stamp" — the unique 1856 British Guiana 1c magenta — is cut into an octagonal shape.

A newspaper wrapper stamped with a cut-out and sent out in 1911 from the Ewen's company to Germany
A Bahamas 4d imprinted stamp cut square from a piece of postal stationery overprinted 2½d
Advertising ring indicia cut to shape