† timbro-combining form repr.Fr.timbre (-poste) postage-stamp [see timbre n.2], used for a short period to form terms relating to stamp-collecting; now superseded by philately and related words. timˈbrology[-logy]=timbrophily; timbroˈmania[F. timbromanie], a craze or mania for collecting stamps; hence timbroˈmaniac, timˈbromanist; timˈbrophily[F. timbrophilie, Gr. ϕιλία love, friendship], stamp-collecting; = philately; hence timbroˈphilica., timˈbrophilist.1864W. Lewins Her Majesty's Mails 265 It only remains to refer for a moment to the timbromanie or stamp mania.1865Routledge's Ev. Boy's Ann. 722 We hold timbromania to be just as sensible a pursuit as a taste for numismatics... The timbromaniac..studies history.1867Philatelist I. 2 Timbromania was its first designation. Timbrophily and Timbrology next had a short reign as a technical term, till Philately..has proved to be the right word.Ibid. 203 Timbrophilists would be a respectably large array.1880Bric-a-Brac Oct. 2 A proof of the great profits made by timbromanists.1891Cornh. Mag. July 36 Which he will dispose of to Western timbromaniacs.