Question About Scott US Specialized Catalog

I am using a computer database called StampCAT to track my stamp collection. I just received my own copy of the Scott US specialized catalog.

One piece of information in the database is called class. For example, the choices are Air Mail, Coil, Commemorative, Official Stamp, Postage Due, Regular, Revenue Stamp, Souvenir Block, and Special Delivery.

I was using the Brookman 2007 catalog and it groups stamps together and says for example 1948 Commemoratives, 1950 Commemoratives, etc.

I am new to stamp collecting and just getting used to how to read these catalogs. How can I tell the class of each stamp using the Specialized catalog?

Any suggestions ?

In general, the Scott editors distinguish the "class" based on the prefix assigned to the catalog ID number. Some examples:

###(i.e., no prefix) -- regular issues and commemoratives
B### -- semi-postals
C### -- airmails
E### -- special delivery
F### -- registered mail
...

If you look in the Table of Contents in the US Specialized, the table contains some of the prefixes and classes of stamps. Unfortunately, the prefixes are not in alphabetical order. In addition, there are some prefixes that are NOT used for US stamps, but do exist for stamps of other nations. For example, the prefix "S" is used for franchise stamps (see France, for example).

Scott does not distinguish between regular issues and commemoratives in the catalog ID number. However, if you look in the front of the catalog, there is a section called "Identifier of Definitive Issues" for regular issue stamps.

Minkus was one of the few catalogs that distinguished between regular issues and commemoratives in its catalog ID numbers. However, the Minkus catalog is no longer published.

If you use this link it shows the US Stamps issued by year. Click on any year and it shows Regular issues (Definitive) commemoratives, and Airmails.

http://www.1847usa.com/USPostageByYear.htm

I seem to recall we've had a similar discussion in another thread about use of the term "Definitive" which catalog publishers, and even the USPS, can't seem to agree on.

Definitive issues are supposed to be the "workhorse" stamps of the industry that are on sale for an extended period of time and do not generally meet the conditions of a "commemorative" stamp for a specific event, etc., that is typically on sale for only a limited period of time. However, even the USPS has a hard time defining those stamps that fall into this so-called "gray area".

Stamps such as the Purple Heart Stamp, are they "Commemorative" or "Definitive"? The answer depends on who you talk to.

Stamps such as the "Go Green" stamps ... are they "commemorative" or "definitive"? I first thought the former when they came out in 2011, then the USPS re-introduced them in 2012 for Earth Day, so they have now seen an extended period of use. Does that make them a "definitive" stamp?

Even the USPS has come up with a new definition of "Special" stamps to define those issues that fall into categories such as "Love" stamps; as well as various holiday stamps, including EID and Hanukkah and Christmas, etc. The definition also extends to the high value stamps for Priority Mail, Express Mail, etc.

And here's one more surprise: The USPS in their latest USA Philatelic Catalog has listed the ATM booklet panes of Liberty Bell stamps under the category of "Special" stamps and also under the category of "Booklet" stamps, too, which suggests that they don't even know how to categorize some of these issues!