Adhesive label - Definition and Overview

An adhesive label is a small piece of paper designed to be affixed to another larger piece of paper or other object, typically by the action of a layer of adhesive on the back of the label.

The most familiar type of label is the postage stamp, which was developed in the mid-19th century. The concept has since been extended into a variety of areas:

• On mail:
  • airmail etiquettes
  • charity labels
  • address labels
  • return address labels
  • postal meter labels
  • certain types of postal labels

• On other kinds of paper objects:
  • revenue stamps
  • savings stamps
  • general markers, notices, or warnings

Almost every imaginable type of paper and adhesive has been used at some point; see postage stamp paper and postage stamp gum for a more detailed discussion. Label may be produced individually, or in sheets, which case they are usually separated by perforations or rouletting, see postage stamp separation.