What ID Numbers Were On Minkus Albums?

Hi,
In an auction win, I got some early USA Minkus pages with I.D. numbers assigned to the spaces. Obviously (ok, not at first), I realized these are not Scott numbers......... What are they?

Thank you,

Mobilman44

Minkus used their own numbering system based entirely on when a stamp was issued without caring what the use was. So the airmails start in 1918 in the middle of the W/F, and so on. It can be a pain to catalog some areas if one is not really familiar with them because of that difference in numbers, it makes the W/F very tricky.

In other words, Mobilman, Minkus albums and catalogue numbers followed the European system of avoiding a separate Back-of-the-Book section for airmails, postage dues, officials etc.--everything was integrated chronologically. While it seems odd to us parochial Scott-o-Philes, I have to say that it is the more common approach worldwide and our Scott BoB system seems odd to those schooled in Stanley Gibbons, Yvert, Sassone, Michel albums and catalogues. Jacques Minkus was an immigrant from Poland. Others know more than I about this.

Thank you, that does make sense!

Of course it would have been nice if only one system was used, but it is what it is.

The Minkus numbering system is the one I grew up with, as it is the one my dad preferred.

Basically, Minkus separates the definitive (regular) issues, from the commemoratives. So, the 1c Columbian stamp of 1893 (Scott #230), is #CM1 in the Minkus system.

Airmails have an "A" prefix in Minkus, instead of the "C" in Scott; So, Scott C13-C15, are Minkus #A13-A15.

The major confusion is in early definitive stamps, where variations and reproductions (such as the 1875 reproductions of Scott #1 & 2), aren't given their own unique Minkus numbers. It also appears that Minkus did not use alphabetical suffixes; ie, hypothetical stamps numbered 110 and 110a in Scott, would be #110 and 111 in Minkus. So, Scott #5 - 9, are Minkus #3 - 9. Further numbering differences mean that Scott #300 (the 1c Franklin of 1902), is Minkus #211.

Edited to add:

This information is only for United States issues, as that is what I (and my dad) collect(ed). I have no information relating to non-U.S. stamps.

Steve D: welcome to the Forum.

Way back when; like in the 1970s; I was using Minkus albums for some of my British colonials. Even had a Minkus catalog or two. As the '80s dawned and I moved to Colorado in early 1981 from back east; I moved away from the different numbering system. As I recall, the catalogs weighed several pounds and I was trying to cut down on the weight for the moving van. So, left them with my parents and eventually discarded both, going completely with the Scott numbering system.

I once got to meet Jacques Minkus, as an impressionable 15 year old collector; in the mid-1960s. He came to Indianapolis to open up a stamp store in the lower floor of the biggest department store in downtown Indy.

For those of us in the USA, Scott generally makes more sense than other catalog numbering systems. Hieronymus mentioned how the Scott BoB system seems strange to those schooled in Gibbons, Yvert, Sassone, etc. The reverse is true as Gibbons makes little sense to me. Have not tried the others he mentioned, but I do use Afinsa for my Portuguese stuff.

I'm looking at one of the Minkus worldwide catalogs now, and as far as I can tell, only the US has separate sequences for regular issues, commemoratives, airmails, etc. For the rest of the world, almost everything is integrated in one sequence. I saw "almost," because taking Great Britain as an example, the Mulready sheets and revenue stamps authorized for postal use are broken out. Otherwise the main GB sequence includes postage dues, officials, etc.

Hi

I also met Jacques Minkus at the New York Gimbel's stamp counter a couple of times. If I remember the Minkus office was not too far from the Gimbels's store.

The clerk at the stamp counter refused to sell the last Latin America catalog (it was in the display case). I wrote a letter (remember those) to Mr. Minkus about the situation and he sent me a copy. It would have been nice if he had signed the book.

Minkus also published a monthly or bi-monyhly (I do not remember which) magazine with some of the latest Stamp news and new issues listings. It was mainly a vehicle for updating catalogs. Similar to the Scott Stamp Monthly.

When one wanted Israeli stamps Minkus was about the only dealer in New York that sold all Israel issues. As a present, My aunt bought me a Israel 1000p blue for 50 or 60c. In addition she also purchased a Minkus World Wide album for me. That, and a bag of stamps from her office, got me started in collecting.

JerryB

Thanks for the reminder about the Minkus magazine. I used to subscribe. Next time I get into my collecting archival boxes, will check if I kept one or two.