In philately, the vignette is the central part of a postage stamp design, such as, a monarch's head or a pictorial design, which often shades off gradually to the edges of the stamp.[1]
The central vignette is often surrounded by a frame which may be printed separately and is normally of a different colour. The plate from which the vignette is printed is known as the vignette plate.[2]
Printing errors have sometimes led to the vignette being inverted. Perhaps the most famous example is the Inverted Jenny.
A different use of the term vignette in philately is to describe publicity labels or poster stamps which do not have postal validity,[3] such as those produced in France during World War One by Delandre.