Problems With Scott´s Catalogue

Hi, I have bougth the Scott´s catalogue 2009 6 dvd,to learn new things about the stamps of the USA,and I am not clarified is as difficult as it seems?? what is the easiest way to interpret it?... .for example, I do not understand What stamp is this,can anyone help me?forgiveness and thanks

I have that catalog too. You should start by reading the section Understanding the Listings on page 16A. You can keep reading through the rest of the sections, there's a lot of info that's useful.

From there, visit the U.S. section and start looking through it. There's one picture for each design, but there can be multiple stamps issued for that design. The one you show is picture A12 on page 2 right hand column. You'll see below it there's four types of the 10 cent washington with labels A13, A14 and A15.

Now skip the ad on page 3 and start reading the listings on page 4. In the first column towards the bottom are you'll see the number 13, which is the Scott's catalog number, followed by A12, then the other four numbers.

But you haven't found your stamp yet. There's more versions of this stamp starting at 31 as well. Each has different features you have to look at to see which one it actually is.

But that should get you started.

On US stamps Scott's is the one you want. The only way to understand it is to read it thoroughly. Reading how to use the catalog is the most important read in the catalog.

I agree about Scott being the best catalogue for this job.

I'm going to assume that you don't have much familiarity with Scotts, so I apologize if any of this is too basic.

Scott assigns a design number, that might get reused over several actual catalogue numbers. The picture typically isn't reprinted when you see a reused design number. So, a given design number might cover many catalogue numbers.

Scott is pretty good about listing other options at the bottom of a listing...they give you places to look for similar stamps.

I also agree that there is no substitute for reading the introductory materials to the catalogue. Actually, this true for any of the catalogues, and it is worth doing from time to time. I still find new information in the introduction to Gibbons, and I don't know how many times I've read it.

Although I understand the sentiment towards Scott (it is the most widely used in the USA, and it is in English), I personally think that Michel does a much better job. Their North America catalogue provides much more information, presented in a more logical way and lists varieties that you will not find in Scott's. For instance, all stamps are shown in a set, not just one with a description of the others. The funny thing is, that the North America catalogue is the "standard" edition, they have a specialized USA catalogue as well.
OK, it is in German, that might be a problem.

The specialized Scott's drill down into more detail than the Standard. Specialized lists values on covers, Blocks as well as things like Private perforations, Encased Stamps, added value for cancels etc.