La estampilla de correos vs. El sello postal

Question

My wise colleagues,

 Firstly, it's good to be back on this site!  I haven't 

visited in a while.

 On to the question: I'm studying a unit on postal service/mail 

and I've come across something that I can't quite answer. What is the difference between/when is the appropriate time to use la estampilla de correos and el sello postal?

 I feel that el sello postal is more accurate, but that's just 

a random guess. Is it el sello when the envelope is being sent to a male? la estampilla for a female?

Please answer as best as you can. I'd like to get this straight.

Thank you,

Zacharías (Zach)

Answer 1

There is a difference between metered mail, stamped mail, and cancelled stamps that seems to vary by region.

Can you elaborate a little more on this? - nrdyAWSM, Feb 13, 2011

What region are you interested in? - lorenzo9, Feb 13, 2011

This is also true. Metered mail will never have a "estampilla", but a sello. Good one! - Gekkosan, Mar 22, 2011

Answer 2

Soy un cartero en Los Estados Unidos y usamos los dos idiomas para nuestros anuncios. Usamos "timbres" para postage stamps y "sellos" for seals or cancelation stamps (markings).

Answer 3

Estampilla o sello. Ambos son correctos.

Technically, yes. But it is not understood the same everywhere. I have seen and heard "sello", "estampilla" and "timbre", depending on which country I am at the moment. - Gekkosan, Mar 22, 2011

Answer 4

I ask for un sello para Europa for a european destination outside of spain or un sello nacional for inside spain.

Answer 5

While visiting Spain (Madrid specifically) back in 1973, I recall wanting to mail some postcards back to the US and upon finding a post office, I asked the clerk for some "estampillas" and he came back with 'you mean, "sellos"?' I got my stamps and all was well, but it appears that the Spanish use "sello" where we use "estampilla" here around Northern México... I have also heard & used "timbre" for that same purpose...

Yes, Cristal.ino ..I have heard of sellos y timbres in Spain but less frequently people refer to them as: "estampillas" as - FELIZ77, Mar 22, 2011

Answer 6

Yo quiero un sello com mi direction.