Album Layout And Bob's

I keep my airmails (and for my US collection, the Special Delivery) in chronological order with the regular issues. They serve the same purpose - to pay the postage at the nominated rate of the service.

I've been collecting stamps for some 40 years, and until about 2 years ago, when I joined this forum and got my first Scott catalogue, I'd never even heard the term BOB! The concept seems to be mostly utilised by Scott. Until then I'd used Stanley Gibbons and various Australian catalogues, and all have the airmail stamps in with the regular issues. The idea of airmails at the "BOB" seems totally foreign to me.

So it's not surprising to see most of the US members saying at the back, because they grew up with Scott and that's how Scott has them. For Aussies and Europeans, I'd expect to see a tendency to have them in with the general issues.

Balf

Good point, Balf.

G'Day Rodney,

I had a Minkus album at first but a dealer that was supporting the school stamp club said to the club that we should get rid of the albums and start using blank quadrille pages. I would not say how many years I have been using them but a friend said that my first album was probably clay or stone tablets.

In addition to mounting covers with the stamps, I also have a cover album. The stamp pages are not that bulky since the covers are pretty thin. However, the Colombia Postal Service, Ad Postal, now 4-72, FDC's have an insert with the stamp technological info and a history of the stamp subject (all in Spanish). The insert does make a cover bulky so these FDC's are in the cover album.

Jerry B

I think pages that integrate BOB with "regular issues" are much more powerful - they allow you gain a better sense of the history of the time as well as the evolution of design in stamps.

Wow guys,

An excellent discussion. I couldn't have hoped for more. Personally, I'm trending towards integrating the Air mails and semi-postal stamps. But the comment of slippery slope is so true. Leaves me to wonder about war tax stamps as in the Canadian stamps, where they are of the same design as the regular issues, just in most cases with an overprint.

Dave.

I think readers should applaud Jerry,
If I recall correctly, he works part time in a stamp shop.

Talk about temptation!
Couldn't handle that myself, I'd surely spend more than the
remuneration.

Would be great to experience others collecting
habits however, albums etc.

Hi

I would leave War Tax, Postage Dues, Semi-Postals, etc. in a separate album. These were issued to raise extra revenues beyond postage. Officials were not for the general public so I would also classify them in this category. The regular issue and air mail stamps were for paying rates to move public mail. So combining regular and air mail issues together makes sense as they were issued to move mail by different means.

Rodney: I haven't been in the store for almost 2 years, since I got sick (but getting better now). I still do 'store work' at home. I don't know if it was in this, or another forum, there was a thread about 'how far is your stamp store'. My answer would be about 20 feet. It does have an advantage being involved with a stamp store. The greatest perk is getting first pick for my collections (I have found some varieties). Also supplies are a little cheaper and if needed, the previous year Scott catalog to use (the old store copy).

Jerry B

I see.
Well hope you are recovering well Jerry.
SCF should perk you up :)

Thanks Jerry,

That makes a lot of sense. So with that, I think I will integrate the Air mail stamps.

Hope you feel better each and every day.

Dave.