How Categorized Stamps ?

Hi all,

I'm a topical collector of stamps depicted prehistoric animals, fossils etc.

I was actively collect stamps when I was little boy, 1985-1990, then restart it once again two years ago. There are many stamps issued during this time, so like to make some order in it.

I like to categorized some stamps related to my topic according to their target: commemorative, definitive, ATM, commercial.
First three categories mentioned above are quite easy to define.
I have a difficulties with "commercial" stamps.

Some countries like Guyana, Guinea-Bissau, Congo etc. issue stamp shows some most popular motives on it, target to collector community only. These stamps are printed out some where outside of the country and not used for post purpose at all.

Other countries as San Marino, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Curacao etc... issue postal valid stamps in reasonable quantities but shown some dinosaurs or any other prehistoric animals who never lived in these countries. They also target to collector community but sold at post offices and can used for post purpose as well.

How you suggest me to differentiate between these two categories ?

kug,
I think what you're calling 'commercial' might be Cinderellas. If so, quite often Cinderellas are cancelled in the corner because they cancel four stamps on a sheet with one cancellation. Also these stamps often have intact gum because although they are cancelled, they were never used. You may want to post in the Cinderella discussion to see what the experts think, especially if you have doubts about a particular stamp.

Karen

Hi kehess,

no I don't - Cinderelas of any kind is totaly out scope of my collection. I mean some stamps produced by or by name of recognized postal authorities.
For example: San Marino 1965, issued a set of Dinosaurs in a huge quatity. These stamps can be found in internet for Euro2-3 even today. They was valid for post, but as far I know, no fossil of depicted animals are found in San Marino to date. These stamos can be classified, by my opinion, as commercial but valid for post.

Another examples: stamps of Guyana, Guinea, Congo ... these countries issue many stamps which recognized by stamp catalogue companies suca´h as Michel, Scott...., get an ID Number, but not really used for post as they face value is too high fir a given country. Moreover, some times they are even not sold in the issuing coutry, but distribute through philatelic bureau and targeted to collector community only.

I catagorize my stamps by cat number

What about the following ?

"A+" stamps of recognized countries when depicted objects are related to issuing territory, issued in reasonable quantity (less than 1M each)
"A?" stamps of recognized countries when depicted objects are related to issuing territory, quantity is uknowns
"A-" stamps of recognized countries when depicted objects are related to issuing territory, issued in high quantity (more than 1M each)
"B" stamps of recognized countries when depicted objects have no relation to issuing territory, issued in reasonable quantity (less than 1M each)
"C" stamps of recognized countries when depicted objects have no relation to issuing territory and issued in high quantity (more than 1M each), but valid for post
"D" stamps of recognized countries when depicted objects have no relation to issuing territory and NOT valid for post - close relative to "Cinderella" - Undesired