I've been looking around at different sties and find, not surprisingly, that there are numerous versions available. Some appear to be smaller and less expensive, others are comprehensive and costly. What catalogues do you recommend? What should we look for in a catalogue? Which do you have? Do newbies need to invest in the big ones right away? Should you get a catalogue when you start, or wait until your collection grows etc
I used to get by with the Postal Service Guide to U.S. Stamps which used to sell for $9.95 but now sells for around $22.00 at Barnes & Noble. I buy a Scott Specialized for U.S. stamps every 4 or 5 years because of the expense. I get the cheap paperback Michel catalogue for German stamps every 4 or 5 years also. For a beginner I would suggest something like the Postal Service Guide or the Blackbook of U.S. stamps for U.S. stamps. Definitely the Scott Catalogues are for serious collectors with deep pockets. Incidently, here in the states, many public libraries buy the Scott Catalogues on a yearly basis and let card holders check out previous year editions. I'm not too familiar with other catalogues for worldwide collectors besides the Stanley Gibbons for the Commonwealth and the Scott volumes. For niche collectors single volumes of the Stanley Gibbons series are not that expensive that they couldn't buy them on an interval basis. There is an interesting site that is a free catalogue that shows a large number of nations with a good run of their stamps but minus their values. It is a good organizational tool, but it isn't comprehensive. The upside is that it's free. http://colnect.com/en/stamps/countries
I try to buy a spiral bound H.E. Harris or Brookman catalog at least every other year. Either covers US/British North America/United Nations. Colored pictures of the stamps are a plus; I have one older Harris and Brookman (each) with B&W photos. The 2013 Brookman cat. has colored pictures of most of the stamps. Just upgraded my Scott catalogs (1998) with the purchase of a used set of Scott catalogs (2008) for something like $30 USD at a local stamp show. Kinda like buying a used car. Let the dealer assume the upfront cost, and buy the used version at a steep discount. Six volumes + US specialized are something like $400+ USD for current year. I don't buy the catalogs to establish stamps values so much as I do to identify new issues I may be missing or to catalog a group of stamps for year issued, type of printing/printers, stamp errors?
For Canada I would recommend Gibbons Commonwealth. You would get a good coverage of all British Empire stamps at the same time.
Great suggestions everyone. Tu7, I think the one I saw was the Gibbons Commonwealth. I am interested in British Commonwealth and Empire stamp collecting, so that sounds like just the type of catalogue I need
I have a few Gibbons that are well out of date but work for me LOL as well as a scott world on cd's (again well out of date) I might invest in a updated Gibraltar and Falklands for xmas
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/STANLEY-GIBBONS-COMMONWEALTH-STAMP-CATALOGUE-CANADA-2008-/350741276739?pt=UK_Stamps_Philatley&hash=item51a9cf2843 http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/5654aj-S-GIBBONS-COMMONWEALTH-1840-1970-CATALOGUE-2008-ED-USED-HARDBACK-GD-COND-/400436969754?pt=UK_Stamps_Philatley&hash=item5d3be7411a the second one could be a good buy if you have time to bid.
i use the scott 2009 cd catalog, but used SG catalogs for a long time as i am more interested in the actual stamps and where to place them than the value the o9lder catalogs work well for me the adobe collection from scott is very handy in being able to use the find option and search for specific words with a few clicks rather than trauling through page upon page of images until you find the stamp you are looking for, although defins are a bit harder with some countrys.
I bid on both, then realized I'd be paying more for postage (on the hardcover) than I would for the book itself, if I win. D'oh! The shipping on the other book is the same as my max. bid. Ugh. That's what happens when shipping from Uk to Canada :/.
My first SG catalogues, brand new in the early 19-sixties I treasured with the same enthusiasm and gusto as when I recently bought my 2013 SG C&E Catalogue a month ago at great cost. When I see the same catalogues as when I received them from my Father little did anyone realise the impact it made on me as a budding collector. As books/catalogues are less read One wonders if the youth today, some anyhow, browse the web for stamps, just to discover their value. Sadly much less than when the philatelic fewer reigned the prelude to exploit the market. Not surprising is that many on Fora ask for the value of some stamp. Especially those who have only the idea their decrepit could be worth turning into money. Just as many have heard of a catalogue but retard their knowledge because of cost. Some do make the trek to a library as I for items not familiar, but are of note. We all get what we can can.
I buy the HE Harris mentioned above just for a general one. They do have many indicators and identification points if one is a beginner. Since the major part of my collections are from before 1940, I do buy a new Scott Classic Specialized every couple of years. The public library usually has the regular Scott yearly set. If you see a set of Robson Lowe's Encyclopedia of British Empire Postage stamps,think about them. Also , even though it is one of my most expensive philately books, The Royal Philatelic Collection is just unbelievable! Here is a partial page from my Canadian Album as long as I am in my photobook. . Jim
Very nice set, desertgem! A few more questions 1. How much do catalogues change year to year? how often should you invest in an updated catalogue? 2. What is the differences and benefits/downfalls of the different company catalogue (Harrris, Stanley Gibbons etc) Thanks everyone who has replied so far.
Any collectors here with Philippines stamps catalog? I was not so lucky finding one in the post office near here.
What is the difference between a "concise" and a "regular" catalog? For example, SG has their regular catalogs for commonwealth countries, then the single volume concise one. Obviously, its small, but what kind of information is omitted? Is it a decent resource or am I better to get the mutli-volume "Complete: ones?
A Stanley Gibbons concise is akin to the Scott Specialized Catalog of U.S. Stamps. It has more detailed information. You get values that the regular catalog does not give, more pictures and information on varieties.
I ordered the Stanley Gibbons catalogues in Canada and the Great Britain Commonwealth/Empire Concise (from 2009 and 2011, I think) as early birthday presents to myself. Looking forward to getting them.
