perforation gauge

As with adhesive stamps, a perforation gauge will be a useful tool of the trade.

With Jacques Legrand he invented the perforation gauge.

He participated actively in the journal Le Timbrophile and with Pierre Mahé invented the perforation gauge instrument necessary to determine the perforation of stamps.

And, while the purist may seek thousand-dollar stamps and decry the issuance of modern sets costing a few dollars, the new generation of collectors will enjoy their section of the hobby without the need for a magnifying glass, perforation gauge or watermark tray.

Although the collector could count the number of holes using a ruler, the usual practice is to use a perforation gauge, which has preprinted patterns of holes in a selection of common perforations, requiring one merely to line up the stamp's perforations with the closest match.

Philately uses a number of tools, including stamp tongs (a specialised form of tweezers) to safely handle the stamps, a strong magnifying glass and a perforation gauge (odontometre) to measure the perforation gauge of the stamp.