Minkus Supreme Global Album Back In Print

Actually, it turns out to be 44 binders, as I'm finally done housing my entire collection in the Steiner.

But it could be 20 binders, if I used larger binders.

I agree that a clear advantage of Minkus Global Supreme and the Big Blues is the relative compactness of the albums. The Steiner has its advantages too- but space is not one of them.

Yes, its really shelf-space that matters, not number of binders. My five fat Minkus Supreme Globals would take up at least 10 smaller binders; but then they go up to 1962. In fact I'd love to have some really sturdy attractive binders in a smaller size.

The more I've thought about it, the more I can see the obvious reason why Amos chose the 1954 edition for the reprint. It means that anyone can start from this point, and then add supplements to take it forward. The later 'volumes' (eg 1953-63, 1964-66, etc) that Amos is reissuing are, almost certainly, based around these annual supplements.

The annual Minkus supplements for these years are somwhat more comprehensive in terms of coverage, and offer a much more leisurely layout, than the relatively condensed versions that were included in the later Supreme Global editions of 1959 and 1966. I know this very well from transferring stamps from my grandfather's original Minkus edition into my own previously unused 1959 edition.

One other point, which I noticed this weekend working on early Greek stamps. Putting numbers to the spaces inevitably limits what can/should go in: and in some cases (and Greece is a perfect example), a lack of specificity can be an advantage to the relative beginner. The single unnumbered row of imperf Hermes heads in the first edition (and reprint) of the Minkus is easy to handle; the later editions, with Minkus numbers, limit the choices--and in this somewhat unusual case actually require a Minkus catalogue. Most of the time the album is self-explanatory about what needs to go in each space, but instances like this make it easy to see why Amos have gone for the choice they have.

So overall I think Amos have made a good decision.

And I suspect,as Amos/Scott once viewed Minkus as a competitor, they just as soon would like to keep the Minkus catalogue/numbers dead as a doornail.

Yesterday, I had the opportunity to remove Turkey stamps from a Supreme Global album pages, and there were Minkus numbers in the spaces. I had to translate to the Scott catalogue system anyway- as I was putting them into the Steiner. So the numbers (for me) were irrelevant.

I was impressed, though, with the depth and breadth of coverage by Minkus, although the stamp illustrations were difficult to discern.

I just came across this topic and found the comments very interesting. I purchased the "new" Amos Supreme Global over a year ago and I have found it to be superior to my older blue Scott International (4 vol. version, 1840-1940). I like the date range of the Minkus album because it covers WW II and the immediate post-war period. The stamps issued between 1940 and 1952 bear witness to momentous 20th century events -- it's well worth having spaces for this era in a "classic" album. I did find that the two volume format for the Minkus to be quite bulky and made it difficult to mount stamps especially with the two-post binders provided. So I purchased a 3rd binder which makes the album much more manageable. I also purchased the slip cases for each binder. Amos still sells the binders but I no longer see the slip cases listed as separate items. Because the pages are printed on both sides, I find clear interleaves essential. Fortunately, Subway Stamp Shop supplies the interleaves. If the Minkus Supreme reprint was available when I purchased my Classic Scott set, I definitely would have chosen the Minkus album. All new acquisitions go into the Minkus while I slowly transfer stamps from the Scott.

Dbuss-

I like your approach, spreading the collection over 3 binders, and having interleaving.

If I was using the Minkus, that is what I would do.

Scott International Jumbo slip cases will work with the Minkus global albums.

They fit a little deeper as Minkus pages and binders are not as wide as Scott.

Other than that, height and width are not a problem.

I have also emailed Amos to see if their Minkus slip cases are still available

I just heard back from Amos.

They no longer offer the Minkus slip covers.

Here is the link to the Amos website for the Minkus pages: https://www.amosadvantage.com/scott...o=&Tab=stamp
I also saw that they have individual year supplements for modern stamps.

Here is an interesting page from a Minkus set. If you don't get every supplement, you may be missing complete countries as they were left out if they did not take up a full page and then added in a later supplement when they made a full page.

Thanks Dutchman1948 for this- good information to have if using Minkus Global supplements.

I get the impression that this is a "new' policy for 1978 and later - so may not apply for supplements before then?

I ordered from Amos the thick paper Global Supreme 1840-1952 pages, and the Global Supreme 1953-1963 pages.

There is some duplication in the 1952-53 interface with pages, as clearly the 1953-63 set spaces were reformatted.

As most collectors know if they are interested in Minkus WW albums, it is better to use the Global Supreme pages (many more spaces available for earlier issues) than the Global Master pages. But, sometime in the 1970s, the supplements for the Supreme and Master pages became the same. It is clear from the page that Dutchman1948 references, that the supplements were the same by 1978.

Jkjblue, I'm wondering if the Minkus Supreme reprints have all the countries starting on a new page, and if they are in full alphabetical order. Could you answer this when you receive your pages? Thanks.

I already have the pages, but I am away from my albums, so this is from memory...

No, The Supreme Global reprint pages are not necessarily alphabetical, and countries do not necessarily start on their own page (although the vast majority do).

"Thanks Dutchman1948 for this- good information to have if using Minkus Global supplements.

I get the impression that this is a "new' policy for 1978 and later - so may not apply for supplements before then?

I ordered from Amos the thick paper Global Supreme 1840-1952 pages, and the Global Supreme 1953-1963 pages.
..."


jkjblue are you getting ready to expand beyond the classical era into the early part of the modern area of philately?

Gene- I need spaces for all the post 1940 stamps I've accumulated through feeder collections. But it will be secondary to the 1840-1940 era, and will depend on time/extra energy- both of which are in short supply at the moment.

I've come to realize I like to collect not just stamps but also stamp albums. So now I own a 1947 Scott International Part I, a 1997 Scott IA1-IB2, a 1954 Minkus Supreme 2 vol., the Steiner CD, a couple old Scott Part II's and an older Scott Part III. For 1840-1940, which do I use? I cannot make up my mind. I'm sure it'll come to me. What a problem to have :-).