Organizing My Collection

I have posted on this topic before about how to organize stamps that could fit in more that one collection. I thought I would share the approach I have settled on.

First I try to get new acquisitions into a "holding" stock book. That way I know what stamps need a permanent home.

Then I prioritize stamps this way.

A. I have "nation" albums for the United States, Canada, Newfoundland, Iceland and South Korea. If a stamp fills a spot in one of those albums that's where it goes. (I put all airmails into my topcial book, however.)

B. Next I review the stamps not part of the nation albums for those that can go into my topical collections.

C. Then I put the remaining stamps on Vario pages organized by country and if there are too few of a country I combine them with other smaller groups by alphabet letter.

Rest of the stamps (which should just be duplicates) go to stock books, boxes, envelopes etc. Organizing them any further is way down the "to do" list.

But my most favorite thing of late is to keep a small stock book filled with just random favorite stamps that I think are "cool" to look at - regardless of topic or nation. I have a great time just flipping through those pages frequently to admire the stamps. And I can substitute them in and out.

Anyway, that's my plan and I am sticking to it (for now.)

So you're saying your Country collections take priority over your Topiclas.
Have you never thought about getting two of the same stamp if it fits in more than one collection ??

Has anyone else?

Londonbus1..

Absolutely - and if economical I will get a duplicate or a less than perfect item. But, when cost is a factor and I can't afford two, I take the nation over the topical.

I have country and topical collections. Usually, the topical will take priority, really beacause I am just starting out on these and they are still sparse. If I end up with two of the same stamp I will keep them and cover both bases.

Scouter, your methodology makes a lot of sense and to some extent I follow a similar procedure. It works and makes some order out of chaos. Regards Mike

Good topic and good ideas, Scouter.

Thanks,
Kirk

Awesome! I think I will do that too.. soon!

i collect themes. Topicals are my favorite, I collect birds, fishes, insects, animals, buildings, etc. I dont have country based collection of stamps. Every stamps fits in to some topic or theme.

warm wishes.

Scouter,

How far along is your South Korea country album? I have been working on my South Korea collection since last summer and have had a ton of fun with it.

I'm considering starting up a new country collection for possibly Ethiopia or South Africa...unsure, but I'm definitely leaning towards a country in Africa.

sounds like a great plan, hope it keeps working for you - jeff